In the cold of winter, your thoughts might turn to warm clothes and jumpers to stay cosy on chilly days. There are so many choices out there when it comes to warm weather wear that it’s hard to know where to begin!
If you want classic and on-trend, you should consider Aran style jumpers or a womens Merino wool Irish sweater, both of which come in many designs and colours. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Where do Aran jumpers originate?
The famous Aran jumper is named after three islands off the west coast of Ireland. The local islanders first started making the original heavy jumper to keep their fishing workers warm in all weather, as well as their farmers. The designs were carefully made and traditions handed down through families and communities.
2. Aran wool is naturally waterproof!
The wool retains its lanolin, which is why it was the favoured jumper for fishing workers.
3. What’s in a pattern?
There are different characteristics attributed to each pattern in the Aran jumper.
• Honeycomb represents the worker bee and the hard-working values of the islanders
• The diamond is for the success and wealth of the wearer
• Cable is a metaphor for the ropes of the fishing boats
• The basket is for a full net of fish.
4. Iconic status
The Aran sweater has always been iconic. It has evolved from a locally used protective garment for fishing workers and farmers to one displayed by fashion models, film stars and design-savvy people everywhere. It is both functional and desirable. In 2015, a display of Aran jumpers was featured in Vogue.
Aran jumpers come in many designs and colours, as you can see at https://www.shamrockgift.com/beautiful-womens-irish-cardigan. There are options to suit any occasion.
5. Skill
Making an Aran jumper requires substantial skill in knitting. The difficult designs and artisan skills used still astound to this day. There are more than 100,000 stitches in just one jumper.
Looking after your Aran jumper
Once you have your luxury Aran jumper, you need to look after it so it will continue to look good for years to come. They are machine washable on a low to medium temperature or specialist wash cycle for woollens, and they need to be naturally dried away from direct heat to avoid damage.
