Aran jumper

The Aran jumper (Irish: Geansaí Árann) is a style of jumper that takes its name from the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. A traditional Aran Sweater usually is off-white in color similar to a sheep's wool and is made from 100% wool. One of the most recognisable features of a traditional Aran is its cable patterns on the chest. Being made of 100% wool it can retain over 30% of its weight in moisture. Nowadays Lanolin is removed from Aran jumper but this waxy substance secreted by sheep in this wool gave the jumper its all-weather versatility. Originally the jumpers were knitted using unscoured wool that retained its natural oils (lanolin) which made the garments water-resistant and meant they remained wearable even when wet. It was primarily the wives of the islanders who knitted the jumpers before local knitters began selling their produce through initiatives such as Congested Districts Board for Ireland in 1892.