Every Home Proudly Displayed Them –– Now They're A Vintage Find For Collage Walls

School spirit never dies. Whether you attended a small liberal arts college or a large, Big Ten school, many of us carry momentos and souvenirs from our college experience from home to home, proudly displaying them no matter how long it's been since we've earned our official alumni status. One such item that feels unshakeably collegiate is the classic felt pennant, and nowadays, this vintage design is rising in popularity as a way to bring in a pop of texture, color, and pride that will finish off the perfect gallery wall.

Pennants first came about as a method of communication on ships centuries ago, but as time went on, they found their way into yacht clubs. After this, the design was co-opted as a way to proudly display the logos of sports teams, acting as an early iteration of merch in the late 19th century. This time period also coincided with the increasing popularity of college football and the widespread renown of Ivy League schools, coalescing into the perfect environment for felt pennants to take over. Nowadays, they can be found all over vintage stores and on the secondhand market, often for very reasonable prices.

You don't have to be Ivy-educated to join in on the fun, either — you don't even have to be repping a certain school, for that matter. Vintage pennants can be found in all manner of designs and colors, emblazoned with everything from amusement parks to the names of cities. Whatever you feel passionate about can be displayed, helping to showcase your personality while simultaneously adding some vintage decor to your home that will never go out of style.

The best way to style felt pennants is, to put it simply, however you want to. We wouldn't be House Digest if we weren't willing to provide a bit of advice, though. Felt pennants can be mounted on your wall alone with the help of a few thumbtacks, a dab of sticky tack, or a couple of adhesive strips, acting as a statement piece that can bring some interest to a simple corner. They can also be combined with other pieces of art as a way to make your gallery wall trendy again, bringing in some more texture and helping to break up the sea of simple prints. For a more finished look, you can even opt to frame your pennant, pairing it with a contrasting backing that helps the color of the fabric stand out.

As for what kind of pennant you should choose, the world is your oyster. College and city pennants are a classic choice — use one to rep your school or your hometown without sacrificing your home's style. A myriad of options can be found online, but consider seeking out a true vintage pennant for a classic look. While they're more vintage-inspired than truly retro, custom name pennants are great for kids' rooms, and they're both easy to DIY with some basic sewing knowledge and relatively inexpensive to buy from sites like Etsy. Regardless of the design you choose, make sure you treat the material with care and keep it away from direct sunlight and humidity — felt can last quite a while, but it is prone to deterioration if it's exposed to harsh conditions or heavy wear and tear.