Since first introduced in 1924, Pendleton wool plaid shirts have been a staple in men's wardrobes. Before the first Pendleton plaid shirt came from the mill, men revered the wool shirt for its warmth and durability, but not their color or style. Basically, you could have any color as long as it was gray. C. M. Bishop saw the opportunity to bring rich plaids and colors to this utilitarian shirt, and the Pendleton wool plaid shirt was born.

The company had already developed sophisticated weaving capabilities in the production of its jacquard Indian trade blankets, which were rich in color and pattern. That expertise was applied to the shirt bringing handsome colors and patterns to what had been a dull and colorless functional shirt. Instantly, the shirt became a coveted item and men throughout the Pacific Northwest flocked to buy them.

A cultural icon of the 1960s, Pendleton's wool plaid shirt was first made famous by The Majorettes when their song, "White Levis, Tennis Shoes, Surfin' Hat and A Big Plaid Pendleton Shirt" became a number one hit earlier in the decade.

Forty years ago, The Beach Boys, then called the "Pendletones," made the Pendleton plaid shirt their wardrobe of choice and created a fashion trend among America's youth. Wearing the wool shirts as jackets over tee shirts and jeans became the band's signature look and appeared on many album covers throughout the 1960s. Today, Pendleton's wool plaid shirts are more popular than ever and are once again gracing a Beach Boys album cover for the band's new "retro" CD recently released by Capitol Records.

Over the years, styles, patterns, even the weights of the wool fabric, have changed, but one thing remains the same: The consistent quality of these highly praised shirts, "Warranted to be a Pendleton." So why does this shirt continue to draw customers?

• Pendleton is one of very few companies that controls the entire manufacturing process of its shirts; from the buying of the fleece from sheep producers to the dying of the wool to the weaving of the fabric to the cutting and sewing of the shirt. As a "vertical" manufacturer, Pendleton controls every element of this American classic.
• The combination of expert dying, the highest quality wools and the soft water of the Pacific Northwest help give Pendleton shirt fabrics vivid, lustrous colors that do not fade.
• Each Pendleton shirt is crafted from 26 to 38 different components, depending on the style. Each shirt is cut by hand from large bolts of fabric in the assembly factory. All pieces of material are labeled carefully to assure that they came from the same bolt of fabric for absolute color and pattern consistency. The bringing of the fabric together into a finished shirt is a tedious, time-consuming process. While automation is utilized where feasible, most steps rely more on a sewing machine and the hands of a skilled worker.
• Meticulous attention is given to matching of patterns, balanced collar points, finish work, collar linings, buttonholes and even folding and packaging.
• Pendleton has developed over the years hundreds of exclusive patterns for its shirts and each season offers "heritage" as well as new "fashion" patterns.
• Over the years, what began as a colorful plaid shirt has blossomed into a vast selection of solid as well as plaid wool shirts unmatched by anyone in the world. The Pendleton wool shirt today comes in three fabric weights and 7 styles to fit casual office needs as well as demanding temperature ranges and activities.

Pendleton men's wool shirts today include:

• The Umatilla, the shirt prized by the Beach Boys, is a 10 oz. weight that can tackle the coldest temperatures or be worn as a casual jacket alternative.
• The Sir Pendleton Button-Down Shirt, the finest, 100% worsted wool, which gives it an even lighter weight than many fine cotton shirts for "year-round" wear-ability.
• Pendleton's High Grade Westernwear, a snap front shirt with peaked yoke front and back and snap pocket flaps.

Today, the Pendleton wool shirt is also offered for women, using the same care and control built into every Pendleton wool shirt. Specially designed with fashion plaid patterns, sizing and fabric weights, the "Shirt for Her" offers style for casual dressing to business casual with all of the comfort of quality wool shirts woven in Pendleton's new "whisperwool" fabric. The shirt is the softest and most luxurious in Pendleton's repertoire.