My family used to have tons of memorabilia from my Georgian great-grandfather who fought in WW2. But someone broke into the shed where they were kept the stuff and stole everything :(
I just recently started collecting Soviet pins, so my collection is pretty minimalist but my absolute favorite in my collection is Laika the Space Dog standing on a rocket. That one is what started my journey into collecting Soviet pins Everything else I've gotten since then has been Lenin badges Thank you for encouraging my behavior
I recently got a few from my partner. I can't wear a badge of Lenin at my work, and I didn't want to have to keep poking holes through my lapel every time I put it on or take it off. I ended up putting it on my scarf, where I can easily display it or conceal it depending on context. I can also put it through the button hole on my lapel to hold my scarf in place while displaying it. My Leningrad pin is inconspicuous enough that it can live on my shoulderbag, blending in with all my other non-USSR pins. Also, TIL that the Russian word for "resuscitation" is "reanimatology". It makes sense, but it also makes them sound like bunch of necromancers.
Interesting you mention poking holes in your lapels! I often come across old blazers and blouses with holes from the prominence of pins and broaches of the past. Seems there was never a remedy for this. Glad you found some pins (& places) they work for you!
I remember finding a Lenin pin on the ground in Toronto a decade ago. No idea what happened to it. I was an anarchist at the time so I didn't fully appreciate it.
I wish i could find pins like that, still no luck. We are allowed to put little decorations on our harnesses, so i put a red banner on mine. I want a red star for my harness too, that would be so cool.
Girl, I got way too bold with my Soveit pins. I went to a local festival on a whim, one that has a serious american military theme behind the scenes. The old man selling tickets was like "What's that on your headscarf" (i am a pagan who covers). It was a red star with baby lenin. Thank god he didn't recognize it and I went on with my day. But just a warning to other collectors that elderly men might be real threatening over it if you forget and wear them in the wrong place. I'm in the south tho, it's probably less risky in better states.
You also have to understand men raised in the Cold war, we where heavily brainwashed to fear those symbols. Okay. I too in the Cold war had a large collection of Soviet badges, ( I was an Allied soldier) I dared not wear them in public, because I knew it would trigger some people. Times have changed, and younger folk are relaxed over these badges.
The green Lenin was my favorite, too. It seems like Lenin heads are almost always on a red background, so that green one is unique. Plus, the color combination of brass and green enamel looks spectacular.
I understand these things have a certain 'retro chic' but seriously , both Lenin and especially Mao were murderous bustards...why would you be proud of their image?
Ever since I saw your previous badge videos, I've been collecting not only Soviet badges, but also badges from other socialist countries. Upon learning more about the history behind these badges, I now have greater appreciation for them and would wear them everyday to work (albeit those with more subtle symbolism). Thank you again, Lady Izdihar for keeping this history alive!
On September 1, I was initiated into October and an October badge was pinned above my heart; 4 months later the bourgeoisie captured my homeland and to this day they do what they want. Everything is dialectical: if the working people do not continue the revolution, do not strive for communism, the fascists seize power and do what they want.
I wish me and everyone else reach a world, where we would see 1991 not only as a tragedy, but more like a bump on historical scene. A bump before a huge tide. Greetings from the exploited of the Central Asia, our countries were also sold on auction.
Great find of Lenin's heads! I want to ask you a couple questions: 1. Are you living in the US? 2. How are you managing peoples comments regarding vintage clothing? Like I really want to dress like you, but am afraid people would just laugh at me for looking like a granny. 3. How are you managing to overcome all restrictions put on you as a muslim woman? For example wearing makeup is considered haram, showing hair under the scarf too, going outside without your husband, brother etc. Please, I don't wish to offend you, I'm just curious about your perspective on these, as a person interested in vintage clothes and Islam 🙏😄🙏
The focus on utility and functionality of Soviet design was something I was not privy to - very cool. Jazak for your work/efforts as always! A belated Eid Mubarak!
I've recently found over 100 of those pins and they're beautiful! I wish I knew if there are collectors for them so they can get a good home and not be lost.
I appreciate the explicit description of the fundamental elements in Sovuet design; the functionality, simplicity, and accessibiliy. Conventient, readable, reliable. Helped articulate what I enjoy about so much of Soviet/Communist designs.
Wow, looking for something to watch and what a great find!! ❤ My Honored Grandmother had a huge collection of political buttons I loved as a kid and teen (we were a political family and many organizers). In college, I wanted to study diplomacy but that program was on hold so I ended up in the Intl Rel Soviet Union program. I wore rhinestones with my Soviet looking winter gear (lived in very cold state). I loved them as sparkly but super affordable, so a working class accessory. And contrasting with winter gear that was Soviet simple. Thanks for the episode and unexpected walk down memory lane.
I have begun my own collection of Soviet era pins. I'm still figuring out my style, but I do plan on accessorizing it with these pins. My favorite is the red ribbon pins with the patriate of Lenin!
I happen to have only 2 badges, but they're the most dear. The first one was gifted to me by my comrade and friend, as a birthday gift, and second also by him but as a badge of initiation into the local org of ours. They're very simple, minted in 2023, but they're golden to me.
I love the green enamel with V.I. Lenin. I only have a small print photograph of him in my apartment, I'd love to have a pin! I have a pair of hammer and sickle cuff pins though. They're really cool.
I love them! And since I am a radioamateur and I am very interested in what amateur radio was in the USSR, i collect the ones related to DOSAAF radioclubs and all about radio, radio fox hunt, electronics and especially radiotelegraphy; in few words, I collect anything related to radiosport. Anyway one must be careful because there's a huge fake market... often many badges are a copy, done in these years, but sold at prices valid only for the real vintage ones. You have to know how to recognize them. Many of them came with a diploma or a document certifying the achievement, for example the badge for "honorable radioamateur". I got mine and spent a lot of money to get a real one with a related document... I don't wear the pins because enamel is very thin and may break very easily (I got experience about this... one pin slipped from my hand and went on the floor, breaking in pieces... good thing I realized later it was just a fake one...)
I'm from Northern Indiana 🇺🇸 and I absolutely love the pins from the Soviet Union. I have over a thousand now. Really loved this video! Awesome new additions to your collection ☭
My wife is going back later in the year and I had already asked her before to get me some pins or some movie or political posters. Thank you for sharing.
I have a Lenin pin that I wear on my jacket. It's exactly like the one pictured in your final remarks that has the text "1870-1970", only mine doesn't have the text. What makes it special for me is that the ruby enamel at the bottom makes it sort of look like he's wearing a Star Trek: The Next Generation command uniform, like what Captain Picard wears. Not only is this a pleasant reminder of my favourite socialist utopian fiction, but also serves as a double reference to Patrick Stewart, who did fantastic work playing both Picard and Lenin (in the series Fall of Eagles). Makes for a great conversation starter in geek circles, where you can point out similarities in the politics of these characters.
Wonderful video! I was wondering if you had any tips for distinguishing between authentic soviet pins and mass produced modern ones. I think differentiating when looking at more niche pins is quite easy but I'm not sure how to do so with more simplistic designs.
I have gotten a load of pins from the goodwill auction site attached to various soviet hats. Beware that site's onerous shipping and handling charges can make for an unpleasant surprise price.
I have some of those! I wear them selectively, and try to make them challenging to people who have no idea what they are looking at. It's big fun. The history has been forgotten by most in this country, that's fine, people don't always need to know what one is thinking about. But i have several of those, which are gifts given to me by friends visiting yes, Red Light district in Seattle. Salaam alaikum.
Wonderful video! I started a small collection of pins thanks to your influence! ;) I got a great small lot of travel pins on Etsy that included a couple of nice Lenin ones. I'm interested in collecting space themed ones and as many different Lenin ones as I can find.
I have 57 Soviet pins. 9 are Lenin pins. I have two from China, one is Mao, and the other is “Long live the eternal science of ML-MZT!” And I have an old DPRK flag badge from the DPRK.
I have this badge "Soviet USSR Russian College Pedagogical University Graduation Screw Badge" that I found during metal detecting in Lithuania. Although, I'm not sure which category would the badge classifiy out of these 3 8:30
The closest I ever got to starting a soviet pin collection was almost buying some pins from the DDR at a stall in Berlin, but the guy behind the stall kept arbitrarily raising the price of just about everything I picked out (they were in a bin labeled "€3" but they suddenly cost 5), while also selling genuine Nazi memorabilia like flasks and medals. Needless to say I didn't buy anything. I do have a lot of pins and buttons from 1980-present, so guess I'll keep those around for future collectors ;)
I love seeing all your badges and pins! I think they’re so cool. I want to get some, to put all over my backpack that I bring with me everywhere. I do have this really cool Cuban coin my mom gave me when she learned I was really interested in leftist history. Since we’re Canadian, she was able to actually travel to Cuba, and thus was able to get it, and ended up bringing it home with her as a souvenir. It has Che Guevara on it and I take more care of it than I do a lot of things, honestly. Great video.
All the pins are soo cooll ahhh I wanna collect them as well but sadly they dont have soviet era stuff in my country. But ahhh the pins you got are such an amazing find
I also collect everything from the Soviet era. pin, medals, badges, you name it, my favorite pin is that of, our guard. Thanks for this video,👍 Spasibo 🚩❤️
I don't have any badges, but I do have some commemorative coins and a couple of medals featuring nuclear icebreakers. My grandfather was a polar explorer, you see. Been to both the Arctic ocean and Antarctica.
i'm romanian. my grandmother worked at a big stadium's cafeteria, so she would meet and serve a lot of athlete teams from many socialist countries. she got many gifts from these guys over the years. particularly, she has this collection of pins from all kinds of places and competitions. the USSR, but also the GDR, Bulgaria, Democratic Korea. i think even a few from countries outside the socialist block. wonderful. i told her, i don't demand anything from her, but if there's ONE thing i want her to leave me, it's this small collection from all over the world
I have a small collection and my favorite is my Lenin badge. I try to ensure the pins and badges are from the Soviet era but I’m still learning. Great video! ☭
I got a cute lil Odessa coat of arms pin at the curiosity shop on the waterfront here in Seattle. I’ve been wanting to go back to look at the others, but now I want to check out red light vintage too! It’s funny that you made this video now bc just the other day I saw a video of a Chinese family who busted out their Mao pin basket to gift to their daughter’s non-Chinese boyfriend. It was a cute post but I was reading through a huge argument in the instagram comment section (I’m messy, I know) between the poster and another Chinese girl whose family moved to Australia (to flee communism? presumably?). It’s definitely inspired me to learn more bc a lot of what she said was making no sense at all 😅
My mom gives me a lot of pins from soviet time. (She doesn't like communism.) A group of people came to argentina, to the armenian community, in the 70s and gave a lot of pins to everyone. I have Lenin heads and buildings from Moscu.
Hiya great video, thanks. Also, I have a vague memory of buying some pins when I was over there and they would have been in the right front or left inner pocket of that military overcoat. Have you checked the pockets by chance? I have clear memory of 2 of them, one was small, 1-1.5cm, and circular, with a gold hammer and sickle on a red background with a gold laural-like wreath around the red. The other was a little larger, 8-10cm about palm sized, red star outlined with gold that had gold text with a hammer and sickle below the text, also with a laural-like wreath around the star. I'll take a look elsewhere and let you know if I find them but I don't ever remember taking them out of the pockets.
I have one, a "Brigáda socialistické práce" medal, specificaly exactly this > cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brig%C3%A1da_socialistick%C3%A9_pr%C3%A1ce They were relatively common in Czechoslovakia, mine is an inheritance from my dead grandfather (RIP). I wear it on my heart on my 'pins jacket', it's pretty swaggy in my humble opinion :) Anyway, great video. Keep up the good work.
Excellent video may I say. A thought occurred to me when I was looking at the profile views of Lenin and Mao: did Cuba ever produce badges like these? That is, badges bearing the images of Fidel and Che, perhaps? I cannot recall seeing any. Can you enlighten me?
It's really unfortunate that this video pretty much sums up everything you can find about soviet pins (znachok) online (in english).. I'd love to know more about how they were produced and how the design process worked and I would be eternally happy if there was a well-organized online-catalogue of a wide range of pins (especially spaceflight-related pins!)
I'd love to have some badges to collect and wear thanks to you! I'm glad you showed your normie outfit because that is hands down the best t-shirt I've ever seen.
"After the death of stalin, the soviets adopted some capitalist practices" i belive that that comment is the only time in my life when i have heard something negative about Stalin's death
