Island Diary

It began with a single photograph, taken in 1918. We have it on the wall in our studio. A father and his daughter, with five young children alongside them. Everything they are wearing was locally hand-made. All the children are in petticoats, as was Island custom, because the tailor didn’t have time to sew trousers for boys until they reached seven or eight. He always made them his standard jacket though; even young lads got one. That tradition was part of Island life, and, in 1992, became the original inspiration for our iconic Shirt Jacket. read more

For centuries, Inis Meáin was the least accessible of the three Aran Islands. We were once completely dependent on sea travel, and communication with the mainland was sparse and unpredictable. Responding to the ever-changing weather is natural to daily life here in addition to being a significant influence on our design aesthetic. Traditional characteristics of islanders are self-sufficiency and resourcefulness. We are accustomed to living in a sustainable way and have always been deeply connected to our natural surroundings. read more

In July, we launched the Máirtín Beag Galánta, a new version made of a cashmere and Super Geelong merino wool blend. We were not surprised when the special Navy colourway sold out very quickly. Now, for those that missed out, the Máirtín Beag Galánta is back in a new colour, Charcoal, a rich black. read more

With recent fashions in men’s knitwear tending towards more fitted styles, a customer asked us to create a jacket that had a looser, more relaxed fit yet didn’t compromise on shape or detail. So we took the traditional men’s double-breasted blazer and used sophisticated knitwear techniques to adapt it to a more casual “one-and-a-half breasted” style. The result is the Inis Meáin Relaxed Jacket, which we’re sure you’ll love as much as we do! read more

A century ago, Máire Cáit, a skilled knitter with a wonderful imagination, wanted her fisherman husband Máirtín Beag’s workwear to look as special as his Sunday Best, and began to create her own distinctive design flourishes. Our Limited Edition Máirtín Beag Galánta is inspired by this story. An elegant and understated navy cashmere blend with a gorgeous soft handle, made and hand-finished in in our Aran Islands studio. Launching on July 23rd. read more

A century ago, Máire Cáit, a skilled knitter with a wonderful imagination, wanted her fisherman husband Máirtín Beag’s workwear to look as special as his Sunday Best, and began to create her own distinctive design flourishes. Our Limited Edition Máirtín Beag Galánta is inspired by this story. An elegant and understated navy cashmere blend with a gorgeous soft handle, made and hand-finished in in our Aran Islands studio. Launching on July 23rd. read more

Each season, during the development of our collections, we go through a testing process to tease out conceptual ideas, colours and production methods. Not all of these variations end up fitting within the final collection, often leaving us with a number of very unique, garments that don’t reach all or any of our clients. We have decided to make some of these available exclusively through our online store. Each week from today, we will be releasing one of these special garments, in very limited numbers. read more

It’s a source of great pride to us that our knitwear, created using long-established Island traditions, is so loved by enthusiasts of well-crafted clothing. Recently, Patrick Dempsey got in touch with us. He had discovered Inis Meáin knitwear in Dublin and, impressed and intrigued by our heritage, quality, and commitment to traditional skills, was curious to see how our knitwear is created, and to explore the landscape that inspires us. read more

Lá ‘le Bríde/St Brigid’s Day is special in Inis Meáin, where rituals from early Christian times and earlier are enacted, commemorating the reawakening of the earth and a new beginning. Young girls visit each house with a Brídeog and recite a prayer and a blessing. Years ago they used to get a gift of eggs which were becoming plentiful again. read more

From a very young age islanders learn knitting (Cniotáil) and dry stone walling (Tógáil Claíochaí) from their parents and they become master craftspeople in their teens. The Claíochaí range is inspired by these crafts and attempts to bring a new dimension to a craft that the artist Seán Scully calls ‘Art'. read more