Island Diary

On a tiny island off the west coast of Ireland, Inis Meáin draws on land– scape and tradition to create clothing beloved from New York to Tokyo.      Established in 1976, the Inis Meáin Knitting Company has achieved the remarkable feat of transforming a local cottage industry – and in this case, those words are literal – into a... read more

Launching our portrait series on instagram, an introduction to the people behind the brand. Cniotáil Inis Meáin was founded on the island in 1976 by Tarlach de Blacám and Áine Ní Chongaile, inspired by the unique spirit, environment and heritage of the place. When the couple  married in 1973, they were determined to make their... read more

Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar accepting a gift of Cóta Raiftearaí at the official opening of newly independent Coláiste Naomh Eoin, Inis Meáin this week. Inspired by the famed 19th century poet Raftery and his epic poem Seanchas na Sceiche. In it he berates a bush, which he found by the roadside and which failed him in his... read more

  Pitti Uomo June 2018. SS19 in 100% linen and linen blends. Colours resonant of island landscape and seascape. read more

It’s not often we see Inis Meáin covered in a blanket of white. Last week’s weather resulted in a difficult few days for the animals without any shelter. Without any sheds our outbuildings on the island the farmers had to trek through the snow drifts to feed hay to their cattle.     read more

(Éigse is best translated as an “assembly of poets”) Last weekend the island celebrated in a great weekend of music and poetry in Inis Meáin to commemorate local poet or bard – Dara Beag – who died almost exactly five years ago. “Nuair a thiteann laoch, ardaíonn sé deannach na mblianta cróga; Nuair a thiteann laoch,... read more

Our signature knitted jacket in Baby Alpaca and Silk was featured last week in the Financial Times – How to Spend it Supplement. “Strong yet soft, smart yet relaxed – it’s no wonder alpaca is leading the pack this season”, says Tom Stubbs. Alpaca’s durability and excellent drape also make it eminently suitable for the... read more

The tradition of the Aran workwear sweater where island women folk knited sweaters for their fishermen husbands and family is well known. For this collection Inis Meáin challenged Lucy Downes of Sphere One, a modern knit design label, to come up with a new Aran. While the intricate cabling of traditional Aran has been often... read more

An international beacon of knitted design and simple luxury, the Inis Meáin Knitting Company sits perched near the edge of Europe, 30-miles from Ireland’s Westernmost shores and on the middling of the three Aran Islands, 4-by-2 mile Inis Meáin. A landscape of inspiring rugged beauty and age-old simplicity, Inis Meáin is an oil painting of... read more

The signature piece of our Autumn/Winter 2016 collection – The Storm Jacket – was recently featured in The Financial Times How to spend it supplement. This piece was inspired by jackets made for island weather, especially the harsh winter storms. A key feature is the extra layer of knit on the shoulders for warmth and protection... read more