Pendleton Woolen Mills Partners With Ricardo Beverly Hills

PORTLAND, Ore., July 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Pendleton Woolen Mills, an iconic American lifestyle brand based in Portland, Ore., has partnered with Ricardo Beverly Hills®, one of the largest luggage companies in America, under a licensing agreement for the Pendleton® brand.

The new Pendleton Luggage Collection will feature the company's exclusive patterns printed on Ricardo's softside and hardside luggage, with opportunities to incorporate Pendleton fabric in a variety of ways, from exteriors to interior pockets along with colorful luggage tags and other travel accessories. The collection is anticipated to debut fourth quarter of 2014 globally in select department stores, and specialty retailers, including online at Ricardo Beverly Hills and Pendleton-USA.

"We are delighted to team up with Ricardo Beverly Hills, known for its product excellence, quality and innovative designs," said C.M. (Mort) Bishop, III, President of Pendleton Woolen Mills. "We look forward to extending our reach and providing consumers with an exciting new category for our heritage brand."

"This powerful relationship provides us with an exceptional opportunity to introduce Pendleton's world-class, intricate patterns in our unique and innovative fashion/designer luggage," said Paul Sarazin, President of Ricardo Beverly Hills. "We are proud to be collaborating with a company acclaimed for its high-quality craftsmanship and rich history."

The Pendleton Mill in Pendleton, Oregon, is the company's original mill, and one of the longest-operating in the nation. The first product was its famed Native American-inspired blankets in 1909, with the introduction of men's shirts in 1924 and women's apparel in 1949. Today the product offerings include men's and women's apparel, blankets, accessories, home decor, gifts and furniture.

The company operates a second centennial mill located in Washougal, Washington.

Pendleton, a multichannel marketer, operates 54 retail stores, a direct-to-consumer catalog and website in addition to selling its lifestyle products to the wholesale trade. Pendleton has been featured on runways in Tokyo and Paris through relationships with upscale fashion brands such as Opening Ceremony®, Comme des Garcons® and YSL®. The company's iconic patterns have also been featured on countless athletic apparel, footwear and lifestyle brands, including Nike®, adidas®, Vans®, Hurley® and Levi's®.

About Ricardo Beverly Hills In business for more than 35 years, Ricardo Beverly Hills has earned a reputation as a fashion leader and trendsetter in the luggage industry. The company was founded in 1978 by Richard "Ricardo" Gibbs, who was a travel products salesman for 40 years prior to launching Ricardo Beverly Hills. Identifying a need for great looking luggage with superior performance, Richard founded Ricardo Beverly Hills in his home. Since its inception, the company has been driven by its commitment to create well-made luggage to suit the needs of travelers no matter where their destinations may be. Recently named in National Geographic's 10 Best of Everything book, the company attributes its success to a never-ending dedication to designing fresh, unique and innovative luggage collections. Ricardo Beverly Hills is one of the largest luggage companies in the United States and continues to create smart and fashionable luggage that offers lasting quality and real value. www.facebook.com/RicardoBeverlyHills

About Pendleton Setting the standard for classic American style, Pendleton is a lifestyle brand recognized worldwide as a symbol of American heritage, authenticity and craftsmanship. With six generations of family ownership, since 1863, the company celebrated 150 years of weaving fabric in the Pacific Northwest in 2013. Known for fabric innovation, Pendleton owns and operates two of America's remaining woolen mills, constantly updating them with state-of-the-art looms and eco-friendly technology. Inspired by its heritage, the company designs and produces apparel for men and women, blankets, accessories, home decor and gifts. Pendleton is available through select retailers in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, Korea and Australia as well as Pendleton stores, company catalogs and direct-to-consumer channels including the Pendleton website, www.Pendleton-USA.com.

SOURCE Ricardo Beverly Hills