Have you ever wanted a piece of clothing that is not just… a piece of clothing? An item that has its own personality, and has all the qualities you would want a garment to have? Then look no further, for there is an object that will undoubtedly fit your style and will make you look stunning without even trying: the Aran sweater. The Aran sweater brings to the table everything you wanted a jumper to have: warmth, versatility, and comfort. This specific pullover has an interesting background and is guaranteed to fascinate you at the first sight. Here are some facts about the Aran sweater that will definitely make you buy one by the time you have finished reading this article:
How to wash your Aran sweater?
When it comes to washing, you have to be very careful. If your Aran sweater is made of 100% wool, never wash it in the washing Instead, follow the golden rule suggested by those who know a thing or two about Aran sweaters: wash it by hand in cool water as seldom as possible and use the “wind-washing method”- hang it in the air and let it stay in the wind for a while- this ill keep your Aran sweater clean and fresh. However, nowadays most of these jumpers are adapted to our busy life and are usually made of high quality materials, such as merino wool that will is comfortable, not as itchy and will not be as demanding when it comes to washing as the ones made entirely of untreated wool, so you can buy one without worrying about it getting ruined after the first rinse. Go online to Tara Irish Clothing for Irish sweaters that will complement your style and serve you a lifetime.
The origins
According to wikipedia.com, the Aran sweater is named after the three islands- Inishmore, Inishmann, and Inisheer- which are located in the mouth of the Galway Bay on the west coast of Ireland. It is believed that the knitting was invented in the late 19th- early 20th century, when fishermen, along with their families, moved there from all around Britain in order to help the islanders and develop the fishing industry.
The special yarn
Back in the day, the yarn that was used to knit the Aran sweaters was untreated, so the natural wax from the wool, lanolin, made the jumpers water resistant. Sometimes it was additionally oiled, which made the fabric even more waterproof and provided fishermen with even greater protection from the harsh natural elements.
The great symbolism of the stitches
A hand-knit Aran sweater has about 100,000 stitches. Legend says that every family living on the Aran Islands has a unique pattern for their sweaters. The basket stitch, for example, depicts an abundant catch, the honeycomb—hard labor, and the diamond— health and prosperity. These patterns were kept secret and passed on from generation to generation.The stitches often illustrated the islanders’ everyday lives, their environment, landscapes, and moral beliefs. It was also believed that if a fisherman died in the sea, he could be recognized by the pattern of his jumper.
Celebrities in Aran Sweaters
In the past, Aran sweaters were worn by many Hollywood stars and other famous people such as Grace Kelly, Steve McQueen, Elvis Presley, and even Marilyn Monroe These days, many celebrities can be seen wearing them: Taylor Swift, who wore one on the cover of her album Folklore, Chris Evans, whose character Hugh Ransom Drysdale wore a trademark Aran sweater in the movie Knives out, and many others, including Robert Pattinson and Harry Styles, are only a few examples.