One year ago I posted about the strange history of the Indian Trade Blanket.It was actually a re-post from Slate.com who looked at the 'interesting exchanges' between Pendleton and Native nations, and now, high fashion hipsters. Pendleton is still going full-force forward, collaborating with various clothing companies, to place themselves as an important fashion icon.
There's no denying the central role that blankets play in Native communities and events, but some of Pendleton's collaborations have led hipsters to label all 'Native-esque' blanket patterns as Navajo, ultimately resulting in a lawsuit between the Navajo Nation and Urban Outfitters. While Native American patterns can serve as inspiration for non-Native designers, they cross the line when a trademarked name gets used without permission.
Click here to read the post and see some great visuals.