Where did the Aran sweater originate?
The Aran sweater takes its name from the Aran Islands, a picturesque and rugged set of islands situated off the coast of Galway in the Republic of Ireland.
Each style and stitch varies; for example, you may find your sweater knitted in a diamond, a tree of life, zig zag, honeycomb or Irish moss stitch. The variation of stitch represents a different part of life, from the diamond stitch that points to the hope of wealth to the honeycomb stitch that alludes to the work of the bees. A finished sweater contains roughly 100,000 carefully knitted stitches and can take the crafter up to two months to lovingly finish what can best be described as a work of art.
Demand for the Aran sweater
Today, there is still demand for the Aran sweater; in fact, there is still demand for many products that are created, from socks to gloves and Aran cardigans. However, the lack of skilled knitters and the rise of machine-produced sweaters means there are less original hand-knits available. Hand knits are rare and some can prove very valuable.
In recent years, the Aran sweater achieved a place on the list of iconic fashion items featured in an exhibition in Manhattan’s Museum of Modern Art. Selected due to its powerful impact on the fashion world during the last century, the sweater has continued to enjoy a platform on the fashion catwalks around the world.
Sweater takes pride of place at exhibition
The National Museum of Ireland donated a sweater for the exhibition, which took pride of place alongside other fashion items such as the Birkin bag, iconic Levi’s 501 jeans from the 1940s, the well-known Wonderbra, and an array of little black dresses.
Image Credit
The Aran sweater is highly sought-after for its quality and the rich history it enjoys. It is a timeless item of fashion with a rich Irish heritage. Aran sweaters make an ideal gift and are particularly useful during the autumn months. They are available from a range of outlets, such as https://www.shamrockgift.com/aran-sweaters.
In recent times, celebrities such as Alexa Chung, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Bosworth and Gwyneth Paltrow have been pictured in stylish sweaters; in days gone by, legendary actors Steve McQueen, Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe were fans of the Aran knits.
An Aran sweater is the perfect unisex gift – versatile, cosy and made to last.
