Long before Aran island sweaters became a fashion statement being rocked by many celebrities such as Patrick Dempsey, Marilyn Monroe and Alexander McQueen; local fishermen and islanders would wear them in day-to-day life.
Women on the island created unique patterned jumpers to help provide warmth and comfort for the men during their labour. This inspired Tarlach De Blacam (head of the Inis Meáin island development committee ) to make a living out of the unique clothing only found on the Aran Islands as well as giving work to many of the island women.
He began the company in a small factory in 1976 along with Áine Ní Chonghaile, working with just six machines and a small number of staff. As the company began to take off, more and more young islanders were influenced to stay and work in the island. Due to the factory, the economy on the island started to improve. At the beginning, it would take around six weeks to create a single jumper but with newer machines and perfected methods, these unique jumpers gained a lot of traction, quickly.
Some jumpers are made from high quality fabrics such as linen, cashmere and merino wool which are sourced form Italy, Mongolia and even Peru. The one of a kind, and incredibly durable, jumpers are well worth the cost especially as there may be only 10 of the same jumpers made, making it a rare find. The company reaches all corners of the world, with major retailers such as Honk Kong, its largest customer the US with over 50 per cent of yearly orders, to our own local Brown Thomas. When on the island you might spot some of the older islanders sporting jumpers made over 50 years ago and still in perfect condition demonstrating the amazing quality of these jumpers. This lush company doesn’t don any bragging logos, it operates on a quiet but confident luxury brand.
Current operators factory, Marie along with her husband Ruraí De Blacam, took over just after Covid. De Blacam is a son of the founders. When visiting the factory, we got to see first hand the skillset required to make the clothing. Covid stirred the De Blacams to reach further into the online sales as they had wisely predicted the shift away from buying in store. This wise decision led the company to bring its online sales from 12.5 per cent to 55 per cent in recent years to ensure the future and sustainability of the business.
When talking to Marie Therese, we learned about some of the struggles they faced; from island population lows of 160, to transport difficulties due to sea conditions.
However, we also learned the amazing affects the factory has had on this island. It has brought the island from derelict and forgotten land to a thriving and flourishing hub with secure jobs and unending prospects. We were very grateful for the unique insight we got from the De Blacams and were in awe of the amazing work they have done to develop the company, and in turn, the island itself.
Overall, the knitting factory has seen amazing development since its start in 1976, taking advantage of the amazing setting and enterprising workers striving for quality clothing. The knitting factory has become a luxury retailer making headlines around the world, known amongst brands such as Gucci and Chanel, and putting the small island of Inis Meáin on the map.
