22/10/2024
The Aran jumper takes its name from the Aran Islands, an archipelago at the mouth of Galway Bay on the Irish west coast. With their iconic off-white colour and cable knit patterns, these jumpers are a beloved staple of Ireland’s heritage and fashion. Wether you call them jumpers, sweaters or jerseys, it’s safe to say the Aran remains an instantly recognizable garment. However, these jumpers are not to be considered mere items of clothing, and their stitches’s designs are far from incidental. Aran jumpers in fact weave a vast recollection of cultural heritage and history that deserves to be recognised.
From its origins, the Aran jumper is believed to identify different clans of islanders and fishermen and their identity. Many myths in the Irish folklore like to think that these Aran jumpers were often used to help identify bodies of fishermen washed up on the beach following an accident at sea. This belief may have originated with John Millington Synge's 1904 play ‘Riders to the Sea’, in which the body of a dead Islander is identified by his hand-knitted socks, which, regardless of how factual this could be, it nonetheless highlights how deeply rooted these jumpers are in the Irish culture.
What makes these jumpers so interesting even to the less fashion-enthusiasts, is the various meanings behind each type of stitch:
The cable stitch is a depiction of the fisherman's ropes, and represents a wish for a fruitful day at sea.
The diamond stitch reflects the small fields of the islands. Often filled with Irish moss stitch, this stitch depicts the seaweed that was used to fertilise the barren fields and produce a good harvest.
The intricate honeycomb stitch is said to be a lucky stitch, signifying abundance and, in the case of fishermen, a good catch.
The basket stitch is inspired by the fisherman’s basket, filled to the brim with fish after a successful day at sea. This beautiful stitch is said to represent a ‘good catch’ and bless the wearer with abundance and a plentiful life.
The tree of life stitch is one of the original stitches, and is unique to the earliest examples of the Aran knitwear. It reflects the importance of the clan, and is an expression of a desire for clan unity, with long-lived parents and strong children.
What many may not appreciate is also the importance of the Aran jumpers for Ireland’s economic growth in the second half of the 20th century. With Vogue magazine presenting articles on this garments for the first time in the 1950s and with the first exports from Ireland to the States led by Standun in Spiddal Co., these jumpers provided employment for Irish women all over the country, making them a source of income for many Irish families.
At Highland Store, we appreciate an honour these wonderful garments through our collaboration with Aran Woollen Mills. All of our Arans are of course made in Ireland, using pure Merino Wool, preserving their iconic history, while making them soft for an everyday wear.
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https://highlandstore.com/collections/mens-knitwear
