Workwear has shaped men’s style as profoundly as any runway — especially when necessity drives design. Just as field and dive watches earned cult status through purpose, certain garments became timeless by mastering the elements. The Aran sweater is one of them: a piece forged on the Atlantic edge and refined over decades into a pillar of masculine cool.
Fisherman kitted out in Aran sweaters - (Image by The Sweater Shop)
Its origin lies in the Aran Islands located off Ireland, where fishermen battled cold seas, fierce winds, and salt-soaked decks. Knitted from lanolin-rich wool and built with bold, three-dimensional cables, the sweaters offered insulation, strength, and weatherproof practicality. Over time, particular stitches took on symbolic meanings: cable patterns echoed the ropes and lifelines of the sea; diamond motifs represented stone-walled fields and the hope of prosperity; honeycomb textures invoked the rewards of hard work; basket patterns symbolized a plentiful catch; and zigzags mirrored rocky cliffs and unpredictable waters. Whether these meanings lie in folklore or later romanticism, they underscore how identity became woven into the garment itself.
The Clancy Brothers in their signature Aran sweaters - (Image by Irish America Magazine)
The leap from necessity to icon came mid-century. In 1961, Irish folk band The Clancy Brothers wore Aran sweaters on The Ed Sullivan Show, helping to popularize the look in the American consciousness. Steve McQueen sealed his legend in a 1963 LIFE photo shoot — sun on his face, no outerwear needed, the knit suddenly as rakish as a sports car and as self-assured as a leather jacket. Since then, the Aran has remained a cinematic shorthand for character: Chris Evans’ venomous charm in Knives Out, Adam Driver’s brooding luxury in House of Gucci, and even the atmospheric knitwear worn throughout The Banshees of Inisherin.
Steve McQueen in an Aran sweater while filming The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) - (Image by IMDB)
Rugged or refined, heroic or haunted — the Aran always reads on camera. Fashion, naturally, followed. Designers reinterpreted the classic cream original in softer yarns, sharper fits, and modern palettes, just as luxury houses reimagined the trench coat from battlefield essential to runway emblem. Yet the fundamentals endure: the natural wool, the cables, the sculptural texture that never looks contrived or overworked.
Worn with denim or under a tailored coat, the Aran sweater remains what it has always been: textured, iconic, and unmistakably cool. A garment born from rugged materials, utilitarian purpose, and the myths of a rugged coastline, it carries a quiet power — proof that when history, function, and imagination are knitted together, even a simple sweater can project inner strength and innate style.
Some of our Favorite Aran Fisherman Knit Sweaters
Isles of Aran Honeycomb Handknit Crew Neck Aran Sweater ($349.95)
Isles of Aran Honeycomb Handknit Crew Neck Aran Sweater - SHOP HERE
The Isles of Aran sweater stays closest to the source. Handknit in Ireland using traditional patterns passed down through generations, its honeycomb motif symbolizes the diligence and reward of the island’s fishermen. Made from thick, lanolin-rich wool, it feels alive in the hand — slightly coarse, deeply warm, and defiantly real. Every stitch speaks of a human hand, not factory precision, and the natural off-white color keeps the focus on texture and craft. It’s not simply a reproduction but a continuation of heritage: a sweater that carries the sea, the story, and the strength of its origins.
Watch to Wear With: Benrus Sovereign Skin Diver
Benrus Sovereign Skin Diver - IN THE SHOP
Wallace & Barnes for J.Crew Wool Cable Knit Sweater ($350)
Wallace & Barnes for J.Crew Wool Cable Knit Sweater - SHOP HERE
Wallace & Barnes, J.Crew’s archival-inspired sub-label, captures the honest toughness of mid-century workwear and channels it into this cable-knit wool sweater. It’s heavier than most, built to hold its shape, and finished with the kind of ribbed cuffs and rolled collar that recall a generation before synthetics and shortcuts. The design honors the original Aran ideal: a garment that can weather the storm yet still look composed at the pub afterward. It’s utilitarian without apology — a modern heirloom for anyone who appreciates when an American classic nods respectfully toward its Irish ancestors.
Watch to Wear With: Ernest Borel Diver
Ernest Borel Diver - IN THE SHOP
Aimé Leon Dore Fisherman Cable Knit Sweater ($495)
Aimé Leon Dore Fisherman Cable Knit Sweater - SHOP HERE
Aimé Leon Dore’s fisherman sweater turns maritime tradition into modern luxury. Knit in Italy, it retains the rope-like cables and tactile heft of a working jumper, but the cut is neater, the yarn is softer, and the attitude is urban. It’s not meant for the deck of a trawler but for a weekend in Montauk or Venice Beach — heritage reimagined for café lighting instead of lamplight. ALD understands texture as language: the dense knit and creamy hue signal both self-assurance and understatement. It’s proof that a piece rooted in hard labor can feel entirely at home in the world of tailored streetwear.
Watch to Wear With: LeJour Diver Orange
LeJour Diver Orange - IN THE SHOP
Chamula for Drake’s Ecru Cable Knit Merino Jumper ($575)
Chamula for Drake's Ecru Cable Knit Merino Jumper - SHOP HERE
Hand-crafted in Mexico exclusively for Drake’s, this cable knit channels the authenticity of the Aran through a softer, more cosmopolitan lens. The Merino wool gives it polish and lightness — less sea-spray grit, more downtown savoir faire. Each sweater is hand-loomed using traditional techniques, so no two are quite alike, and the natural ecru shade emphasizes texture over color. It’s the kind of knit that feels as honest as it looks: rugged structure meeting refined simplicity, a sweater that speaks quietly of skill, culture, and care rather than logo or trend.
Watch to Wear With: Patek Philippe Calatrava
Patek Philippe Calatrava - IN THE SHOP
