Aran Geansaí

[dieworkwear]

There's also Inverallan, which is located in Scotland. They're handknitted and made from heavier, coarser wool yarns

Authentic Hand Knitted Garments by Inverallan Knitters

Inverallan Knitters supplies luxurious, traditional and high quality hand knitted garments and accessories. View our wide range of authentic yarns today...

www.inverallanknitters.com

 

[Pandaros]

There's also Inverallan, which is located in Scotland. They're handknitted and made from heavier, coarser wool yarns

Authentic Hand Knitted Garments by Inverallan Knitters

Inverallan Knitters supplies luxurious, traditional and high quality hand knitted garments and accessories. View our wide range of authentic yarns today...

www.inverallanknitters.com

They look really good - and they're excellent value. I think we should have some discussion on this forum about the different woollen mills. I think you're in the US - is there the same tradition? Not sure if sheep farming has the same footprint in society as here. For a long time there were more sheep than people in the British Isles, but that ended in the second half of the 19th century.

 

[dieworkwear]

They look really good - and they're excellent value. I think we should have some discussion on this forum about the different woollen mills. I think you're in the US - is there the same tradition? Not sure if sheep farming has the same footprint in society as here. For a long time there were more sheep than people in the British Isles, but that ended in the second half of the 19th century.

Hard to maintain a woolen mill here. I don't know the economics of it, but from what I can tell, agriculture is mostly focused on food. Such farming is heavily subsidized by the government while manufacturing processes used for clothing are mostly left to fend for themselves.

Three years ago, Woolrich Woolen Mills, one of the more iconic American woolen mills and supposedly the inventor of buffalo plaid, closed its fabric manufacturing operations in the US.

There are still some places left -- Faribault, Pendleton, Northwest, and American Woolen Company (formerly Warren Mills) come to mind.

I think of the Shaker sweater as the American version of the Aran. Shakers used to be knitted by small Christian groups that went by the same name, but I think they're mostly done by bigger companies now. Fall River Knitting Mills offers them every once in a while.

 

[Mirage-]

If you want a more modern, comfortable jumper than a true Aran, but still made in Ireland, Fisherman out of Ireland would be my first stop, available at Blarney.com.

It's not hand-knitted, and the wool is merino, but it's spun and knitted in Donegal. I have a couple of theirs, but I am going to be adding a hand-knitted Aran soon.

I quite like the high-collar cardigan. It also looks great in black, thanks to the contrasting flecks, which is rare to me, I almost always dislike black. But why is their knitwear dry-clean only? That makes no sense to me.

 

[Sirguywhosmiles]

But why is their knitwear dry-clean only? That makes no sense to me.

I always hand wash any knit that isn't 100% cotton, I'm sure my Fisherman jumper is hand wash or wool cycle. I will check when I get home.

I do have a Ralph Lauren jumper (not sure which line, but not one of the more expensive ones!) that is 100% cotton and dry clean only, which is even more unusual. I hand washed it once and didn't seem to damage it.

 

[Sirguywhosmiles]

I quite like the high-collar cardigan. It also looks great in black, thanks to the contrasting flecks, which is rare to me, I almost always dislike black. But why is their knitwear dry-clean only? That makes no sense to me.

View attachment 1697486

Just realised I have a beanie from that company in my coat pocket: I checked and it is handwash or dry clean.

 

[Mirage-]

Just realised I have a beanie from that company in my coat pocket: I checked and it is handwash or dry clean.

Thanks. Must be the shop's mistake then presumably.

 

[Sirguywhosmiles]

Thanks. Must be the shop's mistake then presumably.

Probably just put it on all knitwear to be safe.

 

[Springwell]

While its not an Aran sweater, I got this outdoor geansai for Christmas. Only tried on for size so far. Lovely lanolin smell from the wool and fits me well. Seems well made to my uneducated eye. First pic has bad lighting. The colour is uniform throughout the garment. https://www.kerrywoollenmills.ie/ are a small producer outside Killarney, in Kerry, Ireland. Looking forward to wearing this after Christmas! It should be ideal with jeans and boots and is a more affordable option

 

[Pandaros]

Thanks for the Kerry recommendation, I'll be following those up

 

[Pandaros]

As an update to this thread, I finally got around to getting an Aran jumper.

I settled with the Aran Sweater Market and got a heavy aran. Really impressed at the quality and price and what this mill puts back into the community. I would recommend to anyone here looking for one. I got a white speckled and it goes with pretty much any coat.

And it really brings back memories of my youth, because it really does smell like raw wool