OCTOBER 22, 2024 — The Boston Globe ran a spotlight today on New England Flag and Banner, a company founded in 1892 and renowned for its hand-crafted championship banners.
The company continues to cut and sew banners by hand for professional, collegiate, and high school sports venues nationwide. Beyond sports, they also produce high-quality U.S., state, and international flags, all made in the U.S.A., according to their official website.
Their latest creation, “Banner 18,” celebrates the Boston Celtics’ NBA championship and will be raised to the TD Garden rafters during Tuesday night’s ceremony. Historically, the company used cotton for banners, but they switched to flag nylon in the 1960s due to cotton’s tendency to deteriorate over time. The “applique” process, involving layering and stitching different colored fabrics, ensures the durability and distinctiveness of their designs.
The company uses materials meant for national flags, meaning the colors of sport banners are actually named after their national flag counterparts. For instance, Bruins gold is technically called Spanish yellow, while the Celtics’ signature color is Irish green.
Image: Public domain