1990 - Pitti Uomo Edition 38

No luck was had in finding any photograph of Inis Meáin's first display at the Pitti Uomo menswear show in 1990, however we did find this special piece in the UK's Country Living Magazine all about Inis Meáin Knitting Company from the same year, helping to set the scene for a retelling of that first ever Pitti Uomo epic journey.

Inis Meáin 1990 - Tarlach de Blacam, who had founded Inis Meáin Knitting Company in 1976 with his wife Áine, was embarking on a long road trip from Inis Meáin, a small island off the west coast of Ireland. He was to drive to Florence, Italy, bringing a rather unusual cargo to Pitti Uomo, the most important luxury menswear show in the world. He would pick up his eldest son in Paris, as 15 year old Ruairí had taken a semester out of school to work in a restaurant in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Having rested briefly in Paris, the pair set out again in the rented van loaded with a currach - the traditional black-hulled rowing boat of the Aran Islands, and the symbol in the company's logo. There was a challenging period trying to enter Italy, as the first border control custom agents wouldn't let the currach through. So our adventurers had to keep going over the Alps until, after several attempts, they found a quiet crossing with a half-dozing security guard to wave them onwards.

Eventually landing in Florence, and with the currach erected on the stand, they enjoyed what would be the first of many wonderful Tuscan meals they shared over the next several decades. On this first trip however Ruairí was to celebrate his 16th birthday in Florence and in true Italian famiglia style he experienced the warmth and fun of the Italian people for the first time. Quickly developing an enduring love for the country, he went on to live and work in Italy for 3 years after finishing school.

Business at the show was brisk with many buyers visiting the stand. Inis Meáin had already been stocked in some of the most important men's fashion retailers in the US since the mid-80's, including Barneys, Louis Boston and Paul Stuart, as well as in specialist retailers in Europe and Japan.

The younger and inexperienced de Blacam needed to improvise at times and when asked by an important potential client as to whether customised back neck labels could be applied, Ruairí didn't hesitate to reply confidently that yes it was possible but it would of course cost more - a successful early trial towards the Sales Director role he held in the company from about 2000 to 2010. 

The 1990 show was an introduction for Inis Meáin to an important event in the culture of men's fashion that has remained very selective about its participants to this day. Founded in 1952, Pitti Uomo was in 2025 recognised by the Italian Ministry of Enterprises as an "historic brand of national interest", the first Italian trade show and one of only a few hundred Italian brands to achieve this honour. Vivienne Westwood was the "Guest Designer" for that 38th Edition of Pitti Uomo. With 18th century portraiture as her inspiration and using distress, hack and sew techniques she presented a distinctly Westwood look, while also winning British Fashion Designer of the Year in 1990. 

After a successful first Pitti Uomo for Inis Meáin, the currach was packed up to stay in Florence where it has remained. 36 years on and the "Mark of the Currach" - the registered company logo of the upturned local fishing boat, being carried to shore by three islanders - remains Inis Meáin's unmistakable mark. The currach also continues to be an integral part of Inis Meáin's unique presentation at Pitti Uomo every year. 

Each knitted piece that carries our upturned currach logo continues to be made in our Inis Meáin workshop. Many of our team members have been working with us for several decades, including Sarah, our Production Manager, working with us almost since the beginning, pictured at a linking machine in the above 1990 Country Living article.

The skilled team of artisans she leads have completed a few more of our most popular winter pieces this week - 3 styles of Navy Jacket - all perfect outer or layering pieces for the cold snap that many areas are currently experiencing. 

First up, the Storm Jacket in Cashmere and Merino is our warmest piece with hand-sewn double patches, and a thick, insulating stand collar.

Followed by the Winter Pub Jacket in classic solid Navy and the Winter Shirt Jacket in Navy Marl, both in our Cashmere, Merino, Baby Alpaca and Silk blend, offering stylish silhouettes that double up as an added layer for extra warmth for the coldest of weather. 

All are signature styles from our 50 year old design repertoire, and all are designed, made and hand-finished in our Aran Island's workshop.