There are plenty of examples of fashion that never really go out of style. Mens Aran Sweaters are one of those examples. The Aran sweater is the creation of the women of Aran some one hundred and twenty years ago. Their work was purely practical, they had no idea or intention that they would become a stylish staple for the rest of the world. The sweaters are made from the local hardy sheep that inhabit the islands. They are blessed with an element known as lanolin. This is a special part of the woollen material that is helpfully water resistant.
The sweater was knitted for the fisherman who went out into the Atlantic to catch as much fish as possible for the inhabitants of the Island. With little access to crops and arable food sources, fish and crustaceans were vital. The sweaters were able to perform two functions. They kept the men warm and dry once out on the boats.
They were soon picked up as having a much wider purpose around the world wherever any fisherman needed their protection. They were then picked up by fashion houses and the rich and famous when they were out on their yachts. One of the most celebrated was film icon Steve McQueen. Because the women knitted intricate patterns, similar to the Celtic knots from religious literacy and Irish pagan folklore, they had an unusual look about them that made them very special.
