A brief History of the Traditional Wool Indian Trading Blankets
Since 1909 the Bishop family (Pendleton Wool) has produced Indian blankets, robes and shawls which are highly prized by much of the Native American population.
One of the reasons for the popularity of these products is the care taken by the pattern designers to learn about the native mythologies and design preferences of their customers. In the earliest years, Joe Rawnsley, who was considered a gifted talent on the jacquard loom, spent time with the local natives of northeastern Oregon to develop preferences of color and design (we now call this "market research"). He would then interpret the ideas gleaned from the native peoples into blanket designs using modern technologies that could express pattern ideas in much greater detail and in more vivid coloration's than could be expressed by traditional weaving methods.
With the success of these first designs, Mr. Rawnsley spent six months in the native Southwest developing ideas for designs which might specifically appeal to the tribes of this region. He returned with hundreds of designs to be interpreted into his weaving processes.
Jacquard loomed Pendleton Indian blankets with their brilliant colors and sharp details became very popular after their introduction into what was known as the "Indian trade".
During the past 25 years, Pendleton Woolen Mills has developed a series of Legendary blankets which are based on the beliefs and traditions of their original and most valued customers.
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