You may have seen Pendleton Woolen Mills recently on CBS Sunday Morning. You can watch it here:
Thank you to everyone who participated, especially Bobbie Conner, and the entire CBS crew who traveled to Pendleton to talk to us, learn about our history, and film at the mill.
Are you wondering what to get that special someone on your list? We have an idea for you. Our Westerley cardigan has been a hit since we introduced it in the 80s, and reintroduced it in the “aughts”. This year, we even have a new Taupe color for you.
This joins our other colorways, the original tan, the charcoal grey, and the (very) popular Navy. You can see all three here: The Original Westerley
You may know it as The Dude’s cardigan or the Big Lebowski sweater, but we debuted the Westerley cardigan in 1974 as part of our High Grade Westernwear line.
The Westerley drew inspiration from beautiful Cowichan sweaters that are hand-knit by Pacific Northwest tribes. Our version was machine-knitted by Winona Knitting Mills of Minnesota, a two-facility company owned by the Woodworth family. Winona Mills was one of the very few USA knitting mills who offered a 2gg knit, a term meaning only two knit stitches per inch. A 2gg sweater is heavy enough to work as outerwear. As the long-time leader of our menswear division expressed it, “You could wear it in a monsoon, and you’d stay warm.”
The vintage Westerley was knit in 3gg, and it was almost as impressive as the 2gg for thickness and warmth. The Westerley was one cozy sweater. We offered it in the western, outdoor and casual lines for over ten years. Over its run of production, the zip front, ring zipper pull and shawl collar stayed the same, as did the Greek key-inspired pattern. Archival visits show that the Westerley’s color variations are surprisingly wide.
The sweater went out of production in the 1980s, but found the limelight in the early 2000s, thanks to an obscure movie that didn’t stay obscure. The Westerley came to fame thanks to “The Big Lebowski,” as worn by Jeff Bridges as The Dude. Jeff Bridges wore his own clothes for this role, and though there were two sweaters hand-knitted as back-ups, he preferred wearing his personal Pendleton Westerley.
In Fall 2013, we brought back the sweater in the original 3gg knit under the Westerley name. We went to the archives, and settled on two versions: a archival version that was cream with red and black pattern, and a desert brown version with navy and gold pattern. The knit pattern on the placket of these sweaters was horizontal, so if you have a sweater with this horizontal ribbed placket, it dates from this revival.
We offered the Westerley in another archival coloration in charcoal and blue early in the fall of 2014. These were all great Westerleys. They were beautifully made and selling well to fans of traditional menswear. We stand behind these Westerleys! But this was not the sweater the Achievers wanted, and the Achievers would not be denied.
In 2015, we went back to the archives and studied the movie to capture the coloration as best we could for the version known as The Original Westerley. This is 100% lambswool in 3gg knit, and it’s ready to take you through your next monsoon, or maybe to your next Lebowskifest. We restored the original stitch pattern to the placket, and attached a small bowling pin keychain. We think it really pulls the sweater together.
It’s what he really wants.
See all the Westerleys for men and women at www.pendleton-usa.com.
Father’s Day is coming soon. Wouldn’t your dad like something special from Pendleton? Here are some gift ideas…what do you think?
For the handy dad, we suggest the Victorinox Swiss Army’s Spartan in our bestselling Glacier Park pattern. The handy dad will have every tool he’ll need in one knife: large blade, small blade, corkscrew, can opener with small screwdriver (also for Phillips screws), bottle opener with large screwdriver, wire stripper, reamer, key ring, tweezers and toothpick.
A bonus with this gift? A portion of your purchase helps fund restoration projects through the National Park Foundation, including the Helical Stairs at Glacier national Parks Many Glacier Lodge. And that’s something we can ALL get behind!
They exist, these dads. They just really like socks! But we don’t want him to have just any old socks.
We suggest Pendleton socks, which come in such a variety of style, fabrications and patterns, there is always a perfect pair for the sock-loving dad. Take a look and have fun.
He’s cool, he’s fun, and if he doesn’t have it, he really wants it. This is the original Westerley, part of Pendleton’s line since the seventies, and part of pop culture history since Jeff Bridges wore it in The Big Lebowski.
In fact, this year is the twentieth anniversary of the movie’s release. But don’t mention that to Dad. It might make him feel old, and he’s anything but. Just get him the sweater, Dude.
We all know him. He asks for hankies, if he asks for anything at all. We think he’s motivated by modesty, but maybe he’s just practical. So for this dad, we offer a Wallet/Valet Tray Set that is eminently practical.
The wallet and tray are made with high-grade leather and plaid Pendleton wool. The valet tray sits on his dresser, ready to catch his change, comb, jack knife, and the well-made, last-forever wallet that’s part of the set. Dad is happy, and you’re happy that you got him something he’ll use every single day.
Every dad deserves the best! But for a certain dad, this is an ultra-special gift.
Pendleton Whisky has released their Director’s Reserve. Aged for twenty years, distilled with pure, glacier-fed spring water from Oregon’s Mt. Hood that allows the unadorned, warm notes of oak, cinnamon, and rye to shine through. A little water or an ice cube opens up orange spice, vanilla, and caramel, followed by a mature and mellow finish. The bottle is wrapped in a leather sleeve with tooling crafted by third-generation saddle maker Randy Severe, whose family has made custom saddles for nearly 70 years. Severe leatherwork is legendary! Looking for a retailer near you? Please email info@proximospirits.com and they will point you in the right direction.
Okay, that’s our top five. You’ll notice there’s not a wool shirt on this list, and of course, for a lot of dads, a Pendleton Shirt is the ultimate gift.
You can see those here: Pendleton Wool Shirts
Have fun with your dads on Father’s Day, everyone!
We love The Big Lebowski, and we love dogs. This post is just a little sharing of that love.
We notice you have a lot in common with your dog.
Like, say, your attitude.
Or your style.
Maybe it’s your eyes.
Or your spectacular taste in sweaters. It doesn’t just tie the room together. It ties the whole family together. Around here, we call it “The Big Lebarkski.”
This post was partly to make you smile, and partly to continue the celebration of his Dudeness, and twenty years, two decades, the big Two-Oh of The Big Lebowski. So carry on, all you dudes. And take the dog with you.
Only available in XS at our website, but we’re working on it, Man.
Thanks for the photos, Dudes (top to bottom):
@emie_lee
@cindy.j.lee
@brianjward
@littledarlingdream
@Torif713
@alisnwundrlnd
“The Big Lebowski” turns twenty this year, and Dude, we still love it.
Two decades ago, this Coen brothers film was released to low to middling success, but quietly grew into a cult favorite. No one can pinpoint the exact reason why. Was it Donny’s clueless questions? Walter’s chin-strap beard? The German nihilists? The dream sequence scored by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition?
Well, it was probably a grand confluence of all of these important factors, plus the masterful turn taken by Jeff Bridges as The Dude. He staggers in and out of trouble, wearing alternately sweats, shorts, pajama pants, a bathrobe, a purple t-shirt and a battered Westerley cardigan.
Jeff Bridges wore his own clothes for this role, and though there were two sweaters hand-knitted as back-ups, he preferred wearing his personal Pendleton Westerley.
You may know it as The Dude’s cardigan or the Big Lebowski sweater, but we debuted the Westerley cardigan in 1974 as part of our High Grade Westernwear line.
The Westerley drew inspiration from beautiful Cowichan sweaters that are hand-knit by Pacific Northwest tribes. Our version was machine-knitted by Winona Knitting Mills of Minnesota, a two-facility company owned by the Woodworth family. Winona Mills was one of the very few USA knitting mills who offered a 2gg knit, a term meaning only two knit stitches per inch. A 2gg sweater is heavy enough to work as outerwear. As the long-time leader of our menswear division expressed it, “You could wear it in a monsoon, and you’d stay warm.”
The vintage Westerley was knit in 3gg, and it was almost as impressive as the 2gg for thickness and warmth. The Westerley was one cozy sweater. We offered it in the western, outdoor and casual lines for over ten years. Over its run of production, the zip front, ring zipper pull and shawl collar stayed the same, as did the Greek key-inspired pattern. Archival visits show that the Westerley’s color variations are surprisingly wide.
The sweater went out of production in the 1980s, but found the limelight in the early 2000s, thanks to an obscure movie that didn’t stay obscure.
Pendleton’s first run at reproducing the “Big Lebowski sweater” came in the Fall of 2011. The Dude Cardigan was not an exact replica. It had the weight and coloration of the original Westerley, with a slightly different knit pattern and a leather zipper pull. This homage sweater generated an enormous amount of publicity, especially because the sweater worn by Jeff Bridges in the movie was going to auction that same year. The provenance of the auction sweater came into question and it was withdrawn from auction. Pendleton’s version sold out almost immediately.
In Fall 2013, we brought back the sweater in the original 3gg knit under the Westerley name. We went to the archives, and settled on two versions: a cream with red and black pattern, and a desert brown version with navy and gold pattern.
We offered the Westerley in another archival coloration in charcoal and blue early in the fall of 2014. These were all great Westerleys. They were beautifully made and selling well to fans of traditional menswear. We stand behind these Westerleys! But this was not the sweater the Achievers wanted, and the Achievers would not be denied.
We went back to the archives and studied the movie to capture the coloration as best we could for the version known as The Original Westerley.
This is 100% lambswool in 3gg knit, and it’s ready to take you through your next monsoon, or maybe to your next Lebowskifest. We restored the original stitch pattern to the placket, and attached a small bowling pin keychain. We think it really pulls the sweater together.
The Dude abides. And so does his sweater. Come see us in our stores, or order online before they’re gone. And on 3/6/2018, the actual date of the movie’s release, the sweater is 20% off. We never do this! So get yours now–here.
Because some things just get better with age.
International DudesOur store manager for Portland Pendleton received these photos after making a Westerley cardigan shipment to Italy. Pictured are four friends from Modena who have a passion for cinema: Cristiano, Filippo, Francesco and Matteo.
These dudes especially like “The Big Lebowski.” For their annual meeting, they wore their Dude sweaters (our Westerley Cardigan) and enjoyed White Russians. Maybe you think four dudes are too many, but that’s just your opinion.
Photos by Lavinia Nitu, used with permission
The Westerley is back in stock at our website: SHOP NOW
