Pendleton Woolen Mills has hired brand consultant Meriwether Group to explore growth opportunities for the iconic brand, which is among a handful of companies still weaving wool fabrics in the United States.
Meriwether, which is also based in Portland, OR, has expertise in licensing, retailing, brand building, sourcing and international expansion and owns an investment fund.
“As a family-owned business operating in Oregon for 150 years, we have decades of history and brand equity from which to build,” said Pendleton president C. M. (Mort) Bishop III, great-grandson of the company’s founder. “Meriwether brings a deep respect for the Pendleton legacy and a keen sense of our potential. We’re looking forward to growing the brand at home and abroad in new and interesting ways.”
The engagement comes as Pendleton celebrates 150 years of weaving fine woolen textiles in Oregon. It started producing its famed Trade blankets in 1909 and expanded to clothing with the men’s shirt in 1924 and women’s wear in 1949. Today, the company offers full lines of premium men’s and women’s wool apparel, blankets, home décor and gifts.
Pendleton products are sold through 70 Pendleton retail stores in the U.S. as well as through seasonal catalogs and online at pendleton-usa.com. Pendleton apparel and blankets have appeared on the runways in Tokyo and Paris through relationships with upscale fashion brands, such as Opening Ceremony, Comme des Garçons and YSL. Their iconic patterns have also been featured on athletic apparel and footwear brands including Nike, Adidas, Vans, Hurley and Dr. Martens. The company’s Portland Collection, which is inspired by 1970s designs, includes cardigan sweaters and wool jackets priced from just under $400 to more than $500.
