From Taylor Swift to The Mandalorian: The Aran jumper is out of this world
When Taylor Swift released her latest album ‘Folklore’ last July it was surely no coincidence that she opted to wear an Aran jumper in the accompanying media photoshoot thus creating a flurry of excitement on social media and a boon for sellers of the traditional Irish garment – the cable knit sweater has long been seen as a symbol of authenticity and stars of stage and screen have long been known to wear its fabled cables.
In December 2019 a humble piece of knitwear almost broke the internet. That is to say that the Aran jumper worn by actor Chris Evans in his role in Rian Johnson’s murder mystery movie ‘Knives Out’ almost broke the internet. Evans wears chunky knitted sweaters throughout the film – a quirky ‘who dunnit’ with incredible sets, props and costumes.
Halfway through the film though, it was Evans’ appearance in a distressed, traditional cream-coloured Aran knit that gained attention across every fashion publication from ‘GQ’ to ‘Elle’, sending sales of Aran sweaters soaring online – the sweater gaining a Twitter account all of its own.
More recently, eagled-eyed fashion mavens have spotted the iconic sweater style being worn by a Mon Calamari character in the Star Wars series ‘The Mandalorian’ – a reference to earlier filming of ‘The Force Awakens’ and ‘The Last Jedi’ on the Skellig Islands off the coast of Co. Kerry perhaps?
From traditional folk singers such as The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem to movie stars such as Steve McQueen, Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe, the Aran sweater has been seen on the backs of many famous personalities. This classic item has retained an enduring appeal that taps into current consumer desire to shop for items that mean something – clothing that comes with resonance, history and heritage as an antidote to fast fashion.
The design, which originated in the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland at turn of the 20th Century, has seen its desirability rise and fall among consumers over the years but it is certainly having a moment right now.
IN 2018, an Aran jumper was chosen to be featured in the exhibition ‘Is Fashion Modern’ at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) in New York – further cementing its place as an iconic item of fashion design. The particular Aran jumper, which was given on loan to MoMa by the National Museum of Ireland, featured alongside such items as the Breton shirt, the little black dress, a classic pair of aviator sunglasses and an Hermès Birkin bag.
The status of the Aran as an example of timeless design has not been lost on many international fashion houses either and many have produced variations on the cable knit season after season. Jean Paul Gaultier has played with the Aran motif over the years, as has Tommy Hilfiger, while brands such as Gucci and Maison Margiela have recently reimagined the Aran for a whole new audience.
Closer to home, young Irish knitwear designers have also begun to make the Aran attractive to a new generation of consumers by adding a contemporary twist. Young Dublin designer Pearl Reddington embraces the Aran tradition, managing to stay true to its heritage, yet, by injecting colour and her trademark neon yarns, she creates modern heritage pieces for both babies and adults.
Indeed, many an Irish adult will recall wearing handmade Aran jumpers knitted by their mothers and grandmothers as well as the itch of the coarse wool with which they were knitted.
These days, however, the Aran has been reimagined in the finest of modern yarns. Companies such as C Bonner & Son, Erin Knitwear, IrelandsEye Knitwear, Aran Woollen Mills and Westend Knitwear are reinventing the classic báinín cream-coloured Aran in an array of natural and bright hues wrought in sophisticated yarns such as merino wools and cashmere blends, lambswool and alpaca wools.
The Aran sweater is officially cool again but this time around it’s comfortable too.
