THE IRISH STORE
BLOG
A little piece of Ireland directly to your door
Blog Menu
9 things you need to know about the Aran Sweater
Written by Lulu O'Sullivan
Hi Everyone. I hope I find you all well. As the winter chills continue there's no better way to stay cozy and look stylish than in a classic Aran sweater. Its iconic status is undeniable so it's not surprising that Aran sweaters continue to remain our top sellers here at The Irish Store. Here's some interesting facts about one of Ireland's most famous exports.
1. The Aran Islands
So this is where it all began! The iconic Aran sweater takes its name from the trio of islands on the west of Ireland just off the coast of County Galway. Inishmore is the biggest of the islands followed by Inishmann and the smallest island, Inisheer. The islander women knitted the first Aran sweaters as a protective layer for the islander fishermen and farmers.
The combinations of stitches that we admire on sweaters today were no accident. Family patterns were closely guarded and passed down through generations. It is even claimed that the bodies of Aran Islander fishermen who had died at sea could be identified by the pattern on their Aran sweater.
2. The Original Fisherman's Sweater
So as I mentioned above, the first Aran sweaters were made for fishermen but did you know that they were actually waterproof! The original yarn was unscoured. Unscoured wool retains its natural lanolin making it water resistant. Perfect for braving the harsh conditions of the unforgiving Atlantic Ocean and a far cry from the soft merino and pure wool yarns that are used today.3. There's an Aran sweater in the Book of Kells!
Ok so this is definitely a myth but it wouldn't be Irish without the odd tall tale! It is claimed that Aran stitch patterns can be seen in one of Ireland's most precious treasures, The Book of Kells. Highly unlikely as the first Aran sweaters came into being in the early 1900s and The Book of Kells dates back to the 800 AD! A more believable explanation is that Aran knitters were inspired by the artwork on the megalithic monuments that surrounded them.4. The Amazing Craft
The amazing skill involved in creating an Aran sweater cannot be underestimated. The intricacy of the designs and the mastery that these Aran knitters commanded of their craft still amazes experts to this day. An sweater is a true work of art containing approximately 100,000 painstakingly constructed stitches.
5. Every Stitch Tells a Tale
There is more meaning hidden in the Aran sweater than you might think! Each stitch pattern has its own symbolism and significance. Below are the meanings associated with some of the most popular Aran stitches.6. A Fashion Icon
Throughout the 1930s and 40s, the Aran sweater gained popularity around the world and when Grace Kelly appeared in an Aran sweater on the cover of vogue in the 1950s, this humble Irish sweater was catapulted to iconic status, cementing its reputation as an Irish design classic.
7. Famous Fans
The fame of the Aran sweater spread further with New York Village's folk scene during the 1950s and 1960s. The Irish folk music group The Clancy Brothers, friends of Bob Dylan, wore their Aran sweaters for their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in the early 1960s, introducing it to millions of American homes. Famous fans included Marilyn Monroe, Elvis and the ultra-cool Steve Mc Queen. Present day celebrities spotted sporting Ireland's favorite sweater include Taylor Swift, Sarah-Jessica Parker and mega star Adele.
8. A Place in Fashion History
In 2017 the Aran sweater earned itself its rightful place in the "Is Fashion Modern" exhibition at the world renowned Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Chosen as one of 111 items of clothing and accessories that have influenced fashion over the last 100 years, the Aran sweater sat side by side with such fashion icons as the little black dress, the biker jacket, the Wonderbra and Levi jeans to name but a few.
9. So Where Can you find the Perfect Aran Sweater?
Well that's easy-The Irish Store of course! Shop our full collection of luxury Aran Sweaters below!
LULU O'SULLIVAN
Hi everyone. I'm Lulu O Sullivan and I founded The Irish Store in 2011 fuelled by my passion for all things Irish; its places, its people, its culture and its craft. At The Irish Store we are dedicated to bringing you, our worldwide community of valued customers, the very finest Ireland has to offer. Thanks for dropping by!
Previous article
13 First Names You Never Knew Were Irish
Next article
5 Classic Irish & Celtic Symbols and Their Meanings
296 comments
RalphPougs May 07, 2025 at 18:01
Однотонные текстуры фасадов https://shkafi-kuhni.ru/page33461085.html
Цена до акции: 16625 р https://shkafi-kuhni.ru/page33375319.html
от 13300 р https://shkafi-kuhni.ru/page33376461.html
Онлайн-калькулятор https://shkafi-kuhni.ru/page33376460.html
Высокая квалификация персонала https://shkafi-kuhni.ru/page33376461.html
Указанное согласие дано на срок 15 лет https://shkafi-kuhni.ru/page33376464.html
В случае его отзыва обработка моих персональных данных должна быть прекращена Компанией и/или третьими лицами, а данные уничтожены https://shkafi-kuhni.ru/page33461085.html
Свое производство https://shkafi-kuhni.ru/page33376460.html
ReplyDuanePEF May 07, 2025 at 17:53
Мы выбрали 15 лучших профессиональных средств для волос и с удовольствием делимся с Вами самым ценным – марокканским золотом!
Профессиональная косметика Москва https://sinapple.ru/collection/kremy-dlya-litsa/product/keenwell-oxidance-crema-antioxidante-regeneradora-noche-vit-cc
BuddyCancy May 07, 2025 at 17:42
За 10 месяцев сотрудничества вырос небрендовый трафик http://proffseo.ru/#rec578916332
от 60 000 ?/мес http://proffseo.ru/#rec578916332
Еще истории успеха http://proffseo.ru/
Tagline Awards 2021 http://proffseo.ru/#rec578916332
Поэтому владельцы сайтов услуги и магазинов стремятся развивать свой сайт, увеличивать посещаемость и прибыль сталкиваются с вопросом продвижения своего ресурса в поисковых системах http://proffseo.ru/#rec578988631
Успейте заказать эффективное поисковое продвижение с выгодой 35%
ReplyRogerEdups May 07, 2025 at 17:31
Подключение к агрегаторам такси https://taxi-prestizhavto.ru/o-nas/
Аренда автомобиля с водителем в Иркутске https://taxi-prestizhavto.ru/promo
Выражаем большую благодарность за предоставленные услуги! Все прошло должном уровне https://taxi-prestizhavto.ru/o-nas/
из личного архива героев http://taxi-prestizhavto.ru/avtomobili
Максим и Татьяна http://taxi-prestizhavto.ru/voprosi
Дмитрий и Настя! Спасибо Вам большое! Мы очень рады что Вы обратились в нашу компанию!
ReplyShawnamect May 07, 2025 at 17:27
Закрытые ленточные нагреватели – это миканитовый (слюдяной) нагреватель с оболочкой из нержавеющей стали, новое поколение нагревателей для сопел и форсунок https://rusupakten.ru/product/rt-450pn/
Задумано для того, чтобы сделать нагреватель герметичным, которые характеризуются высокой удельной мощностью (5 Вт/см2) https://rusupakten.ru/product/nagrevatel-zalitye-alyuminiem/
Их специфическая конструкция делает их устойчивыми к проникновению пластика, что обеспечивает хорошую дееспособность, даже если пластик стекает с сопла https://rusupakten.ru/product-category/electric-heaters/tenb/
Наше предприятие разрабатывает и изготавливает электронагреватели кольцевые (хомутовые), плоские, керамические, патронные, ТЭН, оребренные ТЭН и другие виды электронагревателей для оборудования по переработке пластмасс: термопластавтоматов (ТПА), экструдеров, грануляторов, литьевых машин и другого технологического оборудования https://rusupakten.ru/cena-upakovochnogo-apparata-termopak/
Современные электрические обогреватели BALLU полностью решают отопительную проблему любого помещения, достигая максимального уровня комфорта при минимальных энергозатратах https://rusupakten.ru/product-category/electric-heaters/washing/
Конвекторы можно соединить в отопительную систему с центральным блоком управления для работы по заданной пользователем программе https://rusupakten.ru/product-tag/tenr/
Leave a Comment
Your email address will not be published.
