Century Harding – New for 2023
Celebrating Harding with a Special Weave
The Harding pattern celebrates 100 years in 2023. This design commemorates a visit to Oregon’s Blue Mountain country by President Warren G. Harding and his wife, who traveled West to dedicate a portion of the Old Oregon Trail. But the Harding blanket is not named for our 29th President.
First Lady Florence Harding
At the dedication ceremony, the First Lady was gifted this robe by two local leaders, Chief Cap Sumkins of the Cayuse Tribe and Chief Poker Jim of the Umatilla Tribe. They personally commissioned this robe from the Pendleton mill to honor Mrs. Harding’s sincere and forthright nature. Pendleton’s weavers modified a Chief Joseph pattern and produced a fringed shawl in shades of white, tan, yellow, and red. Mrs. Harding graciously accepted the blanket, and by all accounts was delighted with her gift.
Century Harding
To celebrate this pattern’s century milestone, our weavers created something special: the limited edition Century Harding blanket in an edition of, yes, 1,923. The Harding blanket has always been colored with solid ground. The Century Harding blanket (and the apparel fabrics) have ground woven in an ombre: Navy into royal blue into turquoise into a khaki, finishing with a bright, fresh green. The first photo in this post shows the ombre in detail.
A new commemorative color celebrates 100 years of the Harding pattern with a refreshed layout. In 1923, President Warren G. Harding and First Lady Florence Harding visited Oregon’s Blue Mountain Country to dedicate a portion of the Old Oregon Trail. At the ceremony, leaders of the Cayuse and Umatilla Nations presented Mrs. Harding with a newly designed blanket to reflect their admiration of her sincere and forthright nature. For a century, the Harding pattern has been one of Pendleton’s most sought after signature patterns. This bright, exciting ombre celebrates its evergreen popularity.
The Century Harding pattern is also available in limited edition jackets for men and women, and a variety of accessories.
See the selection here: Century Harding at pendleton-usa
Learn more about the Harding Pattern here: Harding – A Pattern Through Time
And learn more about the Old Oregon Trail here: Route of the Oregon Trail
