TheAran sweater or jumper is one of the many souvenirs that travelers who spend a few days in Ireland often bring home. Much more than just a souvenir, Irish sweaters are all about virgin wool and peat, and offer a fabulous way to keep warm and cosy! A fun gift idea in pure wool that will help you get through the winter with all the warmth of the Irish!
Inisheer – © Gabriela
Featuring thick, unbleached wool, a round collar and a very tight knit, the Irish sweater was originally the garment worn by the inhabitants of the Aran Islands (on Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer), as well as its fishermen, to protect themselves from the cold and damp when at sea.
It has to be said that this sweater has some fascinating properties, making it an ideal garment against the cold! Irish sweaters can absorb up to 30% of their weight in moisture, before you start to feel it. A superpower that the textile industry can’t always compete with, even with their innovative processes!
The handcrafted techniques of the time made this sweater ideally suited to harsh environments, especially at sea, when fishermen needed to bring fish home to their families. Warm, comfortable and easy to move around in, it was an ideal barrier against cold and damp!
In terms of manufacturing, the Aran sweater has always been made by hand. Its wool was taken from Irish sheep raised on the Aran Islands. These sheep had a reputation for incomparable wool quality! Warm, soft and thick: we owe this quality to the local grass, which is very exposed to the sea winds: its mineral content makes it a virgin wool with exceptional properties!
This wool was then spun and hand-knitted by the women living on the Aran Islands. For the record, the knitted stitches (sometimes twisted, sometimes in other more or less complex patterns) used to distinguish different fishing families, like a coat of arms. A practice reminiscent of the kilt and its family tartans in Scotland!
An Irish Sweater – Guide Irlande.com
More than just a garment, the Irish sweater is a piece of Irish history and tradition. But be warned: that doesn’t mean you’ll run into every Irishman wearing it!
Although the general population undoubtedly has one in their closet, this garment is far from being worn on a daily basis on the Isle of Erin!
However, the Irish sweater remains a highly popular product in Ireland… And so has become an emblematic souvenir for locals and tourists alike!
Renowned for the quality of its exceptional wool (always pure wool, otherwise it’s not a real Aran sweater), this garment is now snapped up at a premium and has even become a “trendy” item. Many stars, including the famous Steve McQueen, have been observed wearing them as part of their daily routine.
Expect to pay a minimum of €80 for a quality Irish sweater in specialist stores in Ireland. (Although the price may seem rather high, salespeople will justify it by pointing out that it’s virgin wool, a very expensive material these days. Let’s face it! The price can sometimes soar to over a hundred euros).
In the past, the Irish sweater from the Aran Islands had a unique shape and color. It varied only in the choice of twists and patterns.
But over time, the Irish sweater has reinvented itself, and now offers a whole range of possibilities!
Now you can choose: men’s sweaters, women’s sweaters… Form-fitting or wide… Off-white tones (the natural color of the Aran sweater), blues, purples…etc… Garments now come in a variety of styles to suit every mood and inspiration!
Cuts have also evolved, from simple, straight sweaters (with round or V-neck collars) to cardigans, button-down vests, slim-fitting jackets… and so on.
There’s something for every taste and fashion! And above all, there are both women’s and men’s Irish sweaters: their cut varies to better match today’s canons. A novelty that didn’t exist back then: everyone wore pretty much the same sweater, regardless of gender!
Models are available for both men and women. It’s all about choice, originality and elegance!
Don’t forget to try it on first: you absolutely have to be comfortable in this kind of clothing! (It should be pointed out, however, that the Irish sweater is for those who appreciate handcrafted garments: the wool is somewhat smelly. That’s part of the charm of using a product of this quality made from pure wool from the Aran Islands).
An Irish Sweater – Guide Irlande.com
If you’d like to buy your own Irish sweater, we recommend visiting the specialist stores in Ireland.
You’ll find them all over the country, in big cities and small villages alike… These stores are often tourist outlets, or more specialized in the sale of traditional Irish clothing…
The staff there are generally particularly welcoming, and will surely advise you on the purchase of your future Irish sweater!
Above all, make sure you buy them from artisan workshops where the quality really matters. In souvenir stores and other tourist traps, you can’t be sure that a product is “made in Ireland” (price is often a good indication of quality, but beware of scams).
Choose local shops and spinning mills, where craftsmen are happy to reveal themselves making these precious garments. The shops in County Donegal are among the best in Ireland for finding a quality sweater! (A real product made according to the rules of the art can accompany you for the rest of your life).
If you can’t make it to Ireland right away, it’s also possible to buy an Irish sweater in France, in specialized stores (such as Comptoir Irlandais) or by mail order (many Irish stores have websites and offer shipping). Expect to pay the same price for it, with an extra ten euros or so for delivery.
The question often arises: how do I care for this type of sweater? Do they go in the washing machine? Is hand washing preferable?
To answer this question, it’s essential to understand that a virgin wool sweater is extremely fragile. Wool doesn’t take well to washing machines, and can even shrink if mistreated!
That’s why we recommend hand-washing your sweater with a delicate detergent. No fabric softener, and above all, avoid the tumble dryer: it tends to attack the wool and cause the garment to shrink irreversibly! (Perfect if you want to go from an adult to a child’s size).
Then dry in a windy, dry place. Make sure it’s completely dry before folding… and you’re done!
4.27/5 (30 votes)
