Aran … Where do sweaters come from?

Aran jerseys.

The Aran sweater takes its name from the islands from which it originated, countless generations ago. They say that necessity is the mother of invention and nothing is more necessary than a nice warm Aran sweater in a place like the Aran Islands. Located at the mouth of Galway on the west coast of Ireland, the Aran Islands rise defiantly above the unforgiving Atlantic Sea, a stunning display of towering cliffs and crumbling stone walls, they are a beautiful thing, but not a place for a T-shirt.

Famous Aran sweater.

There are only 1,300 inhabitants living on the islands, good and simple people, whose lives remain intimately intertwined with land and sea. So it seems remarkable that the Islands are famous all over the world for a simple piece of clothing, the Aran sweater, and for the impact this ancient wool sweater has had on the world of clothing. It’s hard to think of a sweater that is more instantly recognizable than the Aran sweater; Its intricately woven patterns and handcrafted sturdiness are unmistakably Arran.

Aran Wool.

Each of Aran’s wool patterns has a semiotic story to tell. The following are just a few examples of the many that exist,

• Diaper: This suggestion of the bee seen in an Arran sweater is the sign of the sweet reward that comes from hard work.
• The Staircase: the stairway to heaven. Braided Stitches – One of Aran’s most famous knit stitches represents the strong fisherman’s rope.
• The Zig Zag: It is believed to represent the ways of Aran and the vicissitudes of married life.

It has to be said that most people don’t really care what story Aran’s knitwear patterns are trying to tell, they just care how well they make the Aran sweater they are wearing look.

The future of Aran knitwear.

There are many modern materials on the market that try to do the same job as Aran’s woolen knitwear, some are pretty good, but when you stop to think that a sweater with a hundreds of years old design can absorb 30% of its weight in water before feeling wet, be breathable and thus draw water vapor away from users’ bodies helping them to maintain a stable body temperature and doing this while keeping the user warm and comfortable, it cannot Avoid getting the impression that people will wear Aran sweaters for a long time to come.