Eighth Generation

Eighth Generation is a Native-owned and operated company based in Seattle, Washington. It was founded in 2008 when Louie Gong (Nooksack) — an artist, activist and educator widely known for merging traditional Coast Salish art with influences from his urban environment to make strong statements about identity — started customizing shoes in his living room. Now the first Native-owned company to ever produce wool blankets — with a flagship retail store in Seattle's iconic Pike Place Market.

All of Eighth Generation's blankets are designed by actual Native artists, meaning you support Inspired Natives®, not "Native-inspired." 
Our Signature Series Wool Blankets put us on the map in 2015 when we became the first Native-owned business to sell authentic, Native-designed wool blankets on a commercial scale. This is so important because it represented Native artists reclaiming a market that had been dominated by non-Native companies using fake "Native-inspired" designs for over a century. 

Our Gold Label collection is made right here in our Seattle studio, and includes 100% Merino wool throw blankets and our newest offering: cotton/wool blend baby blankets!

Our cotton throw blankets are the perfect medium weight, which make them a great choice when you don't need the warmth of wool but want something a bit lighter to keep off the chill. 

Eighth Generation is a Seattle-based art and lifestyle brand owned by the Snoqualmie Tribe. It was founded in 2008 when Louie Gong (Nooksack)—an artist, activist and educator widely known for merging traditional Coast Salish art with influences from his urban environment to make strong statements about identity—started customizing shoes in his living room. Now the first Native-owned company to ever produce wool blankets, Eighth Generation is a proud participant in the global economy.

Eighth Generation provides a strong, ethical alternative to “Native-inspired” art and products through its artist-centric approach and 100% Native designed products. Our Inspired Natives™ Project, anchored by the tagline “Inspired Natives™, not Native-inspired,” builds business capacity among cultural artists while addressing the economic impact of cultural appropriation.

In 2015, Eighth Generation became the first Native-owned business in the US or Canada to sell Native-designed wool blankets, reclaiming a market that had been dominated by non-Native companies using fake "Native-inspired" designs for over a century. That same year, Louie and several important community members, including Colleen Echohawk, presented before the Pike Place Market board to discuss the critical importance of having a Native-owned business in Pike Place Market. We opened our flagship store in the Market in 2016, quickly becoming a beloved fixture in the neighborhood. We launched our own made-in-house wool textile line in 2020—another first for a Native-owned business. In 2022, Louie stepped down as CEO (although he remains an Inspired Natives™ Collaborator), and we were joined by Colleen Echohawk (Pawnee, Athabaskan) as our new CEO. 

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