Custom Medal Ribbons
Wholesale Custom Medal Neck Ribbons
A medal is only half a medal without its ribbon. The ribbon sets the colour of the event, holds the medal at the right height on the chest, and takes the wear out of the piece — which is why it is specified with the medal rather than added afterwards. Sinoawards makes neck ribbons in satin, grosgrain and recycled PET (RPET) satin, 20 mm to 38 mm wide, printed by sublimation, woven as jacquard or screen printed, with the clip, ring or pin that matches the medal's top fitting.
Because the medals are cast and plated in the same factory, the ribbon is dyed to the same Pantone reference as the enamel, and the two arrive fitted and bagged together. No separate ribbon supplier, no colour mismatch between the medal and the strap it hangs from.
Key Features
- Three fabrics — satin, grosgrain and RPET satin, chosen for sheen, grip or recycled content
- Three printing routes — sublimation, woven jacquard and screen print
- Pantone matched to the medal enamel, the bag print and the bib
- Four attachments — snap clip, split ring, safety pin, bulldog clip
- Standard widths 20 mm, 25 mm and 38 mm, with custom cut lengths
- Fitted to the medal and bagged in the same order, or supplied loose
- RPET option for events with a sustainability requirement
- Digital proof showing the print, colour and finished drop
Ribbon Specifications
| Fabric | Polyester satin, polyester grosgrain, RPET satin (recycled PET) |
|---|---|
| Widths | 20 mm, 25 mm, 38 mm; other widths on request |
| Finished length | 800 mm or 900 mm neck drop as standard; cut to the medal's size |
| Printing | Sublimation print, woven jacquard, screen print |
| Colour | Dyed to Pantone; matched to the medal enamel and event colours |
| Attachment | Snap clip, split ring, safety pin, bulldog clip |
| Ends | Heat cut and sealed, or folded and stitched |
| Supply | Fitted to the medals, or loose with clips already stitched in |
| Packing | Bulk, or bagged per medal with the ribbon fitted |
| Shipping | Worldwide by air express or sea freight; freight quoted with the order |
Satin, Grosgrain and RPET
The fabric decides how the ribbon reads under light and how the print sits on it. Satin is the default for awards: it has a sheen that lifts the event colours and prints crisply. Grosgrain is ribbed, holds grip against a garment and is chosen when the ribbon should look more tailored. RPET satin is the recycled-content version of the standard satin and behaves the same way in print and in wear.
Satin
Smooth, glossy face with a matte reverse. The most common medal ribbon: it prints in full colour, takes a crisp logo and lines up well with enamel colours on the medal.
Grosgrain
A fine horizontal rib that gives a flatter, more textile look. Popular for military-style and ceremonial awards, and for clubs that prefer a ribbon without sheen.
RPET satin
Satin woven from recycled PET. Same widths, same printing, same attachments — the difference is the yarn source, confirmed per order in writing on the quotation.
Woven jacquard
The logo is woven into the ribbon rather than printed on it. More durable and more textile in feel, and the right choice when the ribbon will be worn repeatedly rather than once.
Widths, Lengths and Attachments
Width is set by the medal, not by taste: a 50 mm medal looks under-dressed on a 20 mm ribbon and a 30 mm participation medal looks lost on 38 mm. The table pairs the standard widths and drops with what they are normally used for.
| 20 mm width | Children's events, small medals, participation ribbons |
|---|---|
| 25 mm width | Most finisher and sports medals; the default width |
| 38 mm width | Large medals, ceremonial and military-style awards |
| 800 mm finished | Standard neck drop for a 50–60 mm medal |
| 900 mm finished | Larger medals worn lower on the chest |
| Custom length | Sashes, multi-medal displays, bib and clip combinations |
The attachment has to match the medal's top fitting, so it is decided with the medal drawing in front of both parties: a snap clip needs a loop at the top of the medal, a split ring needs a hole, a safety pin sits on a flat top plate. Getting this pair right at proof stage is what prevents a box of medals that cannot be hung.
Where Custom Ribbons Are Used
Races and Finisher Medals
Event colours, sponsor logos and the year printed on 25 mm satin, fitted to finisher medals and bagged for the finish line.
Schools and Clubs
House colours and club crests on 20–25 mm ribbons for sports days, prize givings and end-of-season awards.
Ceremonial and Military
38 mm grosgrain in ceremonial colourways, with woven crests and metal fittings, for formal presentation pieces.
Replacement and Top-Up Runs
Ribbons made to an existing medal when a club has medals in stock and needs fresh straps in the current season's colours.
Artwork Guidance for Printed Ribbons
Send vector artwork — AI, PDF, EPS, SVG or CDR with fonts outlined — laid out to the ribbon's finished width and length, and repeat the design along the ribbon if it is meant to read at any point. Three practical notes:
- Repeat length: a repeating logo needs the repeat to divide exactly into the ribbon length, otherwise the last repeat is cut through.
- Lettering: keep text at 5 mm cap height or larger on a 25 mm ribbon; below that the weave and the sheen break up the letters.
- Colour: send Pantone references, not RGB values. The ribbon is dyed and printed, and the medal enamel is matched to the same reference afterwards.
The proof shows the ribbon flat and printed, plus a simulated drop against the medal so the length and the position on the chest can be judged before production.
How to Order Custom Medal Ribbons
Send the artwork, the width, the length and the quantity to sales@sinoawards.com or via WhatsApp. If the ribbons go with medals, send the medal specification too so the attachment is specified with it.
- Choose fabric, width and attachment — satin, grosgrain or RPET, 20/25/38 mm, and the fitting that matches the medal.
- Send the artwork and colour references — vector file with fonts outlined, and Pantone numbers for the ribbon and the enamel.
- Review the proof — print position, repeat length, colour and simulated neck drop.
- Print, cut and fit — printing, heat cutting and sealing, attachment stitching and fitting to the medals.
- Packing and shipping — bagged with the medals or supplied loose, shipped by air express or sea freight.
Packaging and Shipping
Ribbons for an event normally ship fitted to the medals and individually bagged, so the finish line is a case of handing over a bag rather than threading 500 straps. Loose ribbons are supplied in bundles by width and colour, with the clips already stitched in. Ribbons are light and compress well, so they add very little to the freight of a medal order.
They can travel in the same carton as the medals, the bibs, the lanyards and the drawstring bags, and on the same invoice — which is the practical reason to buy the kit from one supplier rather than assembling it from four.
Why Order Ribbons From Sinoawards
The ribbon and the medal only look like one object if the colour matches and the fittings meet. Both are made here: the medal is cast, plated and enamelled in our own factory, the ribbon is dyed and printed to the same Pantone reference, and the two are fitted and packed together before shipping. On a race kit that runs to thousands of pieces, that removes the most common failure — medals that arrive with a strap that is one shade off the event colour.
OEM and ODM work is available for event agencies, distributors and brands that resell the full kit under their own label.
Related Products
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a medal ribbon and a lanyard?
A medal ribbon is the neck ribbon the medal hangs from: usually 20–38 mm wide satin or grosgrain, cut to a fixed length with a clip, ring or pin at the bottom that holds the medal. A lanyard is a longer, narrower strap worn around the neck to carry a badge, card or keys, and is normally fitted with a swivel hook or a card holder. Both are printed the same way, but the ribbon is chosen to match the medal and the lanyard is chosen to carry something.
How is the ribbon fixed to the medal?
Four standard ways: a metal snap clip stitched into the ribbon end (the medal's top ring clips into it), a split ring threaded through the ribbon loop, a safety pin sewn into the ribbon, or a bulldog clip for flat-top medals and bibs. The medal is designed with the matching top fitting — a loop for a clip, a hole for a ring — so the two parts should be specified together.
Can the ribbon be printed with our logo?
Yes. Sublimation printing is the usual route: the artwork is printed into the satin so the ribbon keeps its sheen and the print does not crack. Woven jacquard is used when the logo should be part of the weave — it is more durable and gives a flatter, textile look. Screen printing is the cheapest option for one or two solid colours on a short run.
How do you match the ribbon colour to the medal?
The ribbon is dyed to a Pantone reference agreed at proof stage, and the same reference is used for the medal's enamel, the bag print and the bib. On multi-colour event kits this is the part that goes wrong most often between suppliers, so one reference is held for the whole order and the proof shows the ribbon against the enamel swatch.
What widths and lengths do you make?
20 mm, 25 mm and 38 mm are the standard widths: 20 mm for children's events and small medals, 25 mm for most sports and finisher medals, 38 mm for large medals and ceremonial wear. Finished neck length is usually 800–900 mm depending on the medal's drop, and the length is confirmed with the proof so the medal sits at the right height on the chest.
Is a recycled ribbon available?
Yes — RPET satin is available instead of standard polyester satin, made from recycled PET. It prints and dyes the same way, so the artwork, widths and attachments do not change. The recycled content is confirmed per order in writing on the quotation.
Can the ribbons be supplied already fitted to the medals?
Yes, and for most event orders that is how they ship: medals and ribbons arrive fitted, bagged and sorted so nothing has to be assembled at the venue. If the medals are being made elsewhere, ribbons can be supplied loose with the clips already stitched in.
What is the minimum order for custom ribbons?
Minimums are quoted per order because they depend on the printing method and the number of colours; a printed satin ribbon and a woven jacquard ribbon do not share the same minimum. Send the quantity, width and artwork and the quotation states the minimum for that specification.
Get a Quote for Medal Ribbons
Send the artwork, the width, the length and the quantity for a quote and proof. If the ribbons go with medals, send the medal specification so the clip and the colour are specified together.
Request a Quote See Custom Medals