Aran Sweaters

[LoftGuy]

Hi,

Paul is quite right, the various Irish 'clan' paraphenaelia is indeed a marketing ploy directed primarily at those Americans of Irish descent who have the means to indulge their 'heritage'. IMHO, there exists two Irish cultures: that of those in Ireland and that of the Irish-Americans. That latter culture has been influenced largely by the difficulties of assimilation resulting from the Famine Exodus of the 1800's, that portrayed in the movies a la Bing Crosby, et al, and lastly, the handed down family legends perhaps somewhat embellished over the generations.

Bob

[ByDand]

Thank you for the link. The prices are good and looks like a reputable company. May have to order one for the wife and one for me!

[davedove]

Unfortunately, the cheaper sweaters don't come big enough for me (50" chest).

[Cawdorian]

The prices are very good. Does the XXL size given as 46" run smaller than the US XXL? I was looking for a reasonably priced navy blue Aran or cable knit pullover, but I haven't found it yet.

[starbkjrus]

Hmmmmm. Link is bookmarked and checkbook is in hiding. :rolleyes:

[porrick]

I bought my Aran sweater from this company in January. Ordered on a Monday and delivered in northern Norway the following week. I had a couple of queries, and got excellent service/follow-up.

Would I recommend the company? YES (no affiliations, just a satisfied customer)

[Colin]

I looked at some really beautiful sweaters while I was on the Arran islands several years ago. The funny thing was, I actually had one already and the prices they were trapping the tourists with was more than I had budgeted to backpack around the UK!?!

[auld argonian]

I used to drink with a guy who worked for the tourist board of a well known Celtic nation.....their greatest import at the time was American tourists with fat wallets and a sentimental attachment to the "old country".

Best

AA

[porrick]

It's just business as in any other country in the world: supply and demand. If people are willing to pay, the company sells...

My intention is not to argue whether the prices are reasonable or not, but having spent time in countries like the US I have experienced that many expect to pay the same price for goods as they do at home (or preferably less). It is for many not pleasant to discover that certain commodities cost more in Europe. I have to deal with gas at USD 5.60 per gallon (US, not imperial), US$75,000 for a Volvo V70 (not the top model) produced in our neighbour country, US$4.50 for ONE can of Guinness at the supermarket, US$10 for a pint of beer in a bar etc etc (For the record: I was employed at a US state university in 2002, and my Norwegian salary was less than my American colleagues )

So whether some industries rip off or trapp tourists really depends on whether you compare with the prices at home or the prices in the home market of the given products.

Living in a high cost country, a new Aran sweater costs me the same as one night out wining and dining... :rolleyes:

[Pleater]

The prices are very good. Does the XXL size given as 46" run smaller than the US XXL? I was looking for a reasonably priced navy blue Aran or cable knit pullover, but I haven't found it yet.

Dark colours don't show up the Aran type stitches in the same way that the natural bainin wool does - and its the very whatsit to knit too.

I have done a few ganseys with worsted spun navy blue but only in the summer and working outside as it is almost impossible to see the stitches under artificial lighting. You might be rather dissapointed with a navy blue Aran.

Come to think of it I had one once - given to me for that very reason - plus a mistake in the twisting which was, of course, entirely unnoticable. That must have been in 1969.

Rumour has it that the Aran stitches were all made up by one man who wanted some jerseys made to sell on - they would naturally sell a lot better if they had a bit if romance about them - but the idea that the patterns were connected to particular families would have delighted him. He probably didn't think of it as Irish 'clans' hadn't been thought of either.

I know that the women's sizes in the UK and the US are different - a size 16 in the US is an 18 in the UK - something one of my aunts who worked in a clothes shop in York said she recited 50 times a day and the tourists still would not buy their correct size, sometimes even after trying on the clothes.

It might be advisable to enquire what the actual size of the garment is, rather than rely on sizing, which can be a matter of opinion.