Pendleton Woolen Mills

Behind The Label

Founded in 1863 and officially established as Pendleton Woolen Mills in 1909 by the Bishop family in Oregon, this American textile giant is the definitive architect of the "True American Heritage" aesthetic. Originally gaining fame for its intricate, high-quality wool blankets trade-inspired by Native American designs, the brand successfully bridged the gap between indigenous craftsmanship and industrial weaving. In 1924, Pendleton revolutionized menswear with the introduction of the colorful, plaid virgin wool shirt—a garment that transformed wool from a utilitarian base layer into a stylish outer statement and eventually became a uniform for 1960s California surf culture (most notably favored by The Beach Boys, originally known as The Pendletones).

Central to the Pendleton identity is its "vertical" manufacturing process; the company still owns and operates two of the few remaining woolen mills in the United States, overseeing every step from the purchase of raw fleece to the final loom-weave. The brand’s most legendary silhouette, the Westerley cardigan, achieved global cult status after being worn by Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski, cementing the label's place in both cinematic and sartorial history. Today, Pendleton remains a family-owned symbol of Pacific Northwest durability, blending its deep-rooted Western frontier spirit with a timeless commitment to 100% virgin wool craftsmanship that is built to endure for generations