Saltire designs often get "clipped" into a swallowtail, and stiffeners are put in to make the flag stay straight. Comes in handy for making sure somebody else identifies your flag (especially when that somebody could be a fellow combat unit).
> We vexillologists must stick together!
I agree - there's a certain mixture of skill sets that wind up creating a vexillologist. Good ritual almost always has a set of flags and banners around. Ritual gowns, hoodwinks and costumes have to be flame proof, otherwise you wind up catching your sleeve on fire, from a candle. Upholstery dudes are good at fireproofing - boats and planes have to pass a flame spread test, and it's not a bad idea in your car. Upholstery often involves big, unwieldy fabric that's more like a rug. Military units (like drill teams) require perfect uniforms, buttons, patches, etc. They have to hold together, and hang right, so you learn to sew with dental floss and wire solder. And, if you are really good - you can do this:
http://www.theatre.vt.edu/DESTOP/drjld/lulu.html