Our Heritage
Our founder Mrs Maura Hughes began weaving the story of Aran Woollen Mills in 1965. Mrs Hughes established the business to follow her passion for Irish craft, heritage and to provide employment locally in the West of Ireland. Our home is the beautiful town of Westport, with a proud textile and knitting industry that stretches back to the 18th century. Generations of craftspeople have been inspired by the dramatic landscape that surrounds us - the majestic Croagh Patrick Mountain overlooking Clew Bay, and of course the wild Atlantic Ocean, all an indelible source of inspiration for our designs. The 13 Hughes children spent much of their summers living and working on the Aran Islands selling sweaters and immersing themselves in Island life. The passion for heritage and craft has been ingrained in the family from an early age and this legacy lives on today within the family business. The infinite power of the ocean has transcended the shores of Aran and Westport into our branding and design details, and each of our stitches are steeped in symbolism. Whether it’s the cable stitch for good luck or the honeycomb stitch - a reward for hard work. Aran knitwear binds us to the land, customs, craft and heritage. By choosing Aran, our customers are sharing an important piece of Irish history with the world. For three generations since that modest first step, our family business has grown to become a trusted Aran knitwear manufacturer. From Westport to the world, we are proud to see our designs and products worn internationally ensuring that our Irish heritage lives on.
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