Pendleton Woolen Mills Licenses Sneakers

Teaming up with Vans for retro shoes

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 4/17/2006 12:00:00 AM

Portland, Ore. — —

Portland, Ore. — Constantly updating its iconic Pendleton flannel shirt look and tapping into new markets, blanket producer Pendleton Woolen Mills has joined forces with sneaker maker Vans for a line of high-top and slip-on sneakers using Pendleton fabric.

The flannel shirt look was popularized during the 1960s by the Beach Boys, who wore them on stage, and originally called themselves The Pendletones after the shirts they wore. The look was later taken up by the surfer generation that followed, the shirts worn when the weather turned cool at the beach.

Pendleton takes the fashion one step further and translates it into a retro high-top sneaker produced by Vans in four styles for men, women, youth and toddlers. The original Pendleton tag is stitched into the insole. Vans is also offering two matching long-sleeved Pendleton shirts.

The pattern now deployed as a sneaker is the original Beach Boys plaid worn by the band. As a sneaker, it's available in the original blue plaid, or in an updated watermelon.