What is "aran jumper"

n. A distinctive style of knitted jumper with prominent cable patterns on the chest, traditionally cream-colored.

The Aran jumper ( Irish: Geansaí Árann) is a style of jumper that takes its name from the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. A traditional Aran Sweater usually is off-white in color similar to a sheep's wool and is made from 100% wool. One of the most recognisable features of a traditional Aran is its cable patterns on the chest. Being made of 100% wool it can retain over 30% of its weight in moisture. Nowadays Lanolin is removed from Aran jumper but this waxy substance secreted by sheep in this wool gave the jumper its all-weather versatility. Originally the jumpers were knitted using unscoured wool that retained its natural oils ( lanolin) which made the garments water-resistant and meant they remained wearable even when wet. It was primarily the wives of the islanders who knitted the jumpers before local knitters began selling their produce through initiatives such as Congested Districts Board for Ireland in 1892.

The jumpers are distinguished by their use of complex textured stitch patterns, several of which are combined in the creation of a single garment. Use of the word jumper (or other options such as " pullover" and " jersey") is largely determined by the regional version of English being spoken. In the case of Ireland and Britain and Australia, "jumper" is the standard word with "sweater" mainly found in tourist shops and America. The word used in Irish is geansaí, a Gaelicisation of guernsey which has been re- Anglicised to gansey in Hiberno-English.

Some stitch patterns have a traditional interpretation, often of religious significance. The honeycomb is a symbol of the hard-working bee. The cable, an integral part of the Aran islander's daily life, is said to be a wish for safety and good luck when fishing. The diamond is a wish of success, wealth and treasure. The basket stitch represents the basket, a hope for a plentiful catch.