We are proud to be brand new retailers of Aran Woollen Mills — an iconic Irish company bringing the natural beauty, warmth, and unique style of Aran knitwear to customers who value craftsmanship, authenticity and sustainability.
Established in 1965, Aran Woollen Mills began as a true family endeavour, with the Hughes Family being engaged in all levels of the business, from production to distribution, and initially engaging over a hundred workers along the West Coast of Ireland who handcrafted the sweaters in their homes. Now, more than half a century later, it has grown into Ireland’s largest home-grown manufacturer of Aran Island knitwear, while remaining firmly family-owned and deeply committed to its origins.
Crafting knitwear and creating Aran knitwear that carries the weight of the past and the present is no easy feat. That is why every team member and every step of the process is so highly valued and respected. Their highly skilled crafters use their years of experience to create each sweater with perfection. They are knit, pressed, sewn and linked together, and then carefully examined to ensure every panel is perfect and consistent in quality and comfort. They work exclusively with 100% merino, worsted, and Donegal wool, and respect the beautiful sheep that gift all of us with their wonderful fibres.
What’s more? These heritage pieces not only provide the wearer with warmth, but perhaps a little bit of luck, too. To fishermen along Ireland’s western shores, Aran sweaters have always been more than just practical garments. The patterns and stitches are said to represent facets of the fisherman’s life: the ropes, the nets, the sea itself. Some are believed to bring good fortune and safety to the wearer. While often seen as distinctly Irish, these symbolic traditions echo across sea-faring cultures worldwide, where clothing, weather, and the ocean are all bound together by folklore and reverence.
We’re very happy to carry this company and its time-honoured tradition, which is so deeply woven into our own fabric here in Cape Breton. Find the beautiful Inisheer and Inishbofin sweaters at LQ, both in-store and online.
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