The Aran Sweater Spectrum

The Aran sweater gets its name from the islands off the west coast of Ireland, where the style originated around the 17th century. Often cream in color and always chunky in texture, the sweaters were first knit by the wives of fishermen using unscoured wool that retained the fibers' natural oils which provided protection from the cold, wet conditions at sea. The different kinds of stitches had different connotations, with the cable stitch representing a fisherman's ropes. Today's are a bit softer and some have been shrunken for a more modern fit. Herewith, a range from the affordable to the investment piece: