Pendleton Wool & Handbags
Hello! My name is Jessie, and I’m the owner and magic maker behind Land & Kamp. I create one of a kind handmade, sustainable canvas and Pendleton wool bags and lifestyle goods in my Portland, Oregon studio. Growing up in Camas, Washington, my mom frequently took me to the Pendleton Mill in Washougal. Blankets were a very important purchase for the home because they were so expensive. They were extra special, as we purchased them knowing the blanket would be in our family for life. All the men in my family grew up wearing Pendleton button down wool shirts, and the grandmothers wore the ladies’ jackets, wool skirts, and wool suit sets.
Whenever you see the brand Pendleton, the comment is always, “Oh Pendleton. That is so nice, and it will last you forever.” When I started casually sewing, I would pick up a yard or two of scrap fabric from the Washougal store when they still carried wool fabric. I would make a dress or bag for myself and receive so many comments that I started making what were initially horrible, terribly designed and sewn purses! I didn’t know what I was doing, but I played with the designs, figured out what styles people gravitated towards, and continued to refine them.
Sewing wool is challenging because of how it moves under the pressure and weight of the machine’s foot, as well as the sheer bulk of the blanket weight material. I’ve found tricks to make the fabric stretch less and cut away the excess bulk that warps the purse design. Many people tell me their Pendleton story; whether it was a great grandfather that used to work at Pendleton, or how they first visited the Pacific Northwest and fell in love with a Pendleton wool item to bring home as their souvenir.
Pendleton wool has been directly tied to the northwest since the early 1900s. They produced bright colors and intricately woven patterns, which were developed, inspired, and interpreted through traditional weaving methods of local indigenous communities like the Nez Perce. These patterned blankets were commercially produced and embraced by Native American peoples across the country and became an integral part of their culture and ceremonies.
Pendleton products became a signature of the Pacific Northwest for travelers and outdoor enthusiasts, creating a background for many family photos of camping, weekend drives, picnics, hiking, and hunting. Pendleton wool is tied to the outdoor lifestyle and sustainability the region offers, with the inherent nature of wool being nature’s most sustainable fiber. Wool is completely biodegradable, naturally decomposes, releases nutrients back into the soil, is antimicrobial, antibacterial, stain resistant, and naturally resists odors. Wool keeps you warm by trapping dry air and warmth next to the skin when it’s cold, and keeps you cool in the heat because of its coil-like shape that pulls heat from the body when hot.
The purses I make from small to large include the card pouch, carry all (think pencil pouch size), cosmetic kit/travel kit, 3 in 1 wristlet, Bitsy (20% reduction of the crossbody), crossbody, convertible backpack (crossbody to backpack), and a Weekend Tote. If you are looking for eco-friendly handmade purses or tote bags, we’d love for you to choose Land & Kamp!
