Pendleton Woolen Mills celebrates century of shirt making with limited-edition collection

Pacific Northwest lifestyle brand Pendleton Woolen Mills is celebrating its centennial anniversary with the launch of a special limited-edition collection of shirts. Marking a century of shirt making, the capsule collection includes plaids inspired by one of the original wool shirts produced by the brand in 1924.

"A 'Century of Shirtmaking' represents a celebration of enduring craftsmanship and iconic patterns that have defined Pendleton for over a hundred years," said John Bishop, CEO and president at Pendleton, in a statement.

"We are especially proud of this milestone as it is rare in American manufacturing to have a century of non-stop production in two factories. The expertise of our designers and mill specialists, combined with the enthusiasm for wool shirts among Pendleton fans, has made this achievement possible. We are thrilled to share this moment with our customers."

The brand’s woolen mill in Pendleton, Oregon, first opened its doors in 1909, during which the company primarily focused on weaving jacquard-patterned blankets. Later, in 1912, Pendleton acquired a second mill in Washougal, Washington. By 1924, after fifteen years of blanket weaving success, Pendleton introduced its first wool shirt. The mill's expertise, strong ties with local wool growers, and consumer demand all played a part in the creation of the brand’s first shirt. The introduction of vibrant colors and high-quality wool established Pendleton as a leading brand for wool shirts, a reputation that still stands true a century later.

Since the late 1950s, Pendleton shirts have been integral to Californian surf culture, even before the Beach Boys wore them on album covers. As wool is nature's original "performance" fiber, Pendleton shirts have been favored by outdoor enthusiasts and the lowrider community for over seventy years. Later this year, Pendleton will also launch a documentary series, "Shirt Tales", showcasing the communities that contributed to Pendleton's century-long success. Each episode will feature personal stories of how Pendleton shirts have enriched customers' lives.

The Century of Shirtmaking capsule collection includes a number of shirts made entirely in the USA from 100 percent virgin wool, in addition to styles inspired by the first Pendleton shirt. "Having the opportunity to develop a fabric based on Pendleton's first wool shirting from 100 years ago was an honor," said Aaron Buck, mill technical design manager at Pendleton, in a statement. "I analyzed a swatch of the original pattern and translated it into our current construction. We evolved the pattern further by adding ombrés of color. It was important to everyone on our design teams that we pay homage to the details, quality, and craftsmanship that went into this fabric 100 years ago."

The first pieces from the collection are now available for sale at Pendleton-usa.com and at select Pendleton retail stores nationwide. More items from the collection will launch in September 2024.