2024.08.28
When It Comes to Blankets, "PENDLETON" Symbolizes American Culture with Over 160 Years of History
Renowned for its high-quality wool products like blankets and shirts, PENDLETON. With a history so long that it is often referred to as the "world's oldest apparel brand," PENDLETON is a significant symbol of American culture.
This time, we spoke with Hirotaka Endo, in charge of sales, marketing, and e-commerce at Minoya Co., Ltd, about the history of PENDLETON and its staple items.
"PENDLETON started in 1863 in Oregon, USA. The founder, an Englishman named Thomas Kay, came to America and established a sewing factory, where they initially began making blankets for Native Americans to trade.
"The quality of their products was highly appreciated. For Native Americans, blankets hold a special significance, used to wrap their bodies during events such as births and burials. It's not just an item to keep warm, but something seen as having a much deeper meaning."
Continuing the Craftsmanship Honed Over 160 years, Still Made in the USA
Now, let's talk about the craftsmanship of PENDLETON. Although the brand business has expanded over time and there are several production sites, their commitment to "made in the USA" has remained unchanged since their founding."The headquarters and factory are still located on the same land where it all began. Although the buildings and looms have been updated, some old machines are still in operation. All processes from spinning pure virgin wool, dyeing, weaving, and making the products are done in-house.
"Handling all processes in-house from yarn creation to finished products has become quite rare in recent America. In such a situation, PENDLETON items, crafted with 160 years of accumulated techniques and constant innovation, are characterized by their color vibrancy and fabric softness, qualities that are hard to replicate elsewhere."
PENDLETON's Iconic Wool Blankets
Let's now discuss PENDLETON's iconic item, the wool blanket. We'll introduce their staple patterns."The blankets are made in America using the softest pure virgin wool, woven continuously at the headquarters factory, and are the items with the longest history.
"First, let me introduce the 'Chief Joseph' pattern. This pattern is named in honor of Chief Joseph, a Native American hero, and is the most iconic of PENDLETON.
"Another staple pattern is 'Harding.' The name originated from a blanket presented to First Lady Florence Harding during a visit to Oregon by President Warren Harding and Harding in 1923.
"Currently, these two patterns are the mainstays, with various patterns lined up seasonally."
PENDLETON Wool Shirts with a 100-year History
Besides wool blankets, PENDLETON is also famous for its wool shirts. Here are four representative items from their line of acclaimed shirts."PENDLETON's shirts were born in 1924, celebrating their 100th anniversary this year. Among the many shirts in their lineup, the 'Board Shirt' stands as a representative item.
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