One of our all time favorite suppliers here at The Sweater Shop has to be Irish brand Aran Woollen Mills. Based in Westport, in County Mayo this iconic Irish brand is one we are extremely proud to have stocked for over 30 years now.
Built on the same principles as ourselves, committing to sustainability, affordability and guaranteeing excellent quality, Aran Woollen Mills is a brand that we adore to stock.
Originally known as Carraig Donn Manufacturing, the brand has evolved over the years to now be called Aran Woollen Mills.
Introducing Aran Woollen Mills
Aran Woollen Mills, or Carraig Donn, was set up in 1965 by the Hughes Family. They employed over 100 people who crafted Irish Products from their homes.
They have expanded over the years to now have a large factory in Belmullet where the Aran sweaters are made now. Irish Craft has been their speciality from day one and we can see this clearly today.
The Aran sweaters knit in the factory show the intricate Irish stitches in each sweater, we can clearly see the diamond stitch, honeycomb stitch, traditional moss stitch and the beloved traditional cable stitch in nearly every Irish sweater they produce.
A Story in Every Stitch
Each stitch in an Aran Woollen Mills sweater tells a story. Inspired by the landscape of the Aran Islands, their product range incorporate intricate patterns that reflect the lives of the islanders.
From the cable stitch symbolizing luck for fishermen to the honeycomb stitch representing hard work and community, every detail in their wool knitwear represents a piece of history and culture. The history of the Aran Sweater is so incredible and well worth a read.
Their hand knit Aran sweaters are made with the utmost care and attention to detail. Their skilled artisans carefully create every sweater with love and care , ensuring that the individual stitches meets the highest standards of quality and are steeped in authentic Irish heritage.
Aran Woollen Mills goes beyond crafting beautiful quality knitwear and Irish accessories. They source their wool locally, supporting the local Irish community and minimizing their carbon footprint, with sustainability front and center of their ethos.
Aran Woollen Mills is able to offer products that are not only timeless but also ethically produced. These quality methods is what sets Aran Woollen Mills apart.
Handknit Aran Sweaters
Their specialty is definitely their handmade Aran Sweaters. They are perfect quality and we have customers tell us that their handknit Aran sweaters have lasted 30 years. They boost the traditional Aran Stitches, made in 100% Merino Wool making the sweaters so soft and luxurious to wear.
We adore the army green Handknit Sweater that can be worn by a women or man and will stand the test of time, making it the perfect choice from our unisex range.
Handknit Aran Cardigans
The Irish Aran handknit Cardigans come in a variety of colors but our top pick has to be the classic Natural color where you can see cable variations so clearly. The leather buttons are so beautiful that will be sure to keep compliments coming your way.
Super Soft Merino Wool Sweaters
Aran Woollen Mills have introduced a range of absolutely stunning Super Soft Merino Wool Sweaters.
We've noticed a trend towards customers wanting softer sweaters with mor intricate stitch craft, so their new range has been absolutely flying for us especially in the brighter color tones.
Experience Aran Woollen Mills today
We are lucky to carry a large range of their beautiful products in our stores in Dublin, Galway and Kilkenny. Don't worry if you cant make it into our stores, we also have their collection available to browse and buy online.
If you need any advice on buying Aran Woolen Mills garments, or indeed anything else from our Aran Wool range, our customer service team is happy to help you on your Aran journey!
We are open 10am-6pm GMT Monday to Saturday and 11.30 - 5.30pm Sunday so if you need any guidance, we're here to help you!