It is a handknit sweater first created many generations ago and named after the islands off Ireland's West Coast, where fishers and farmers lived and worked together. Aran sweaters were traditionally good-quality pure merino wool handknit sweaters with heavily textured knit patterns.  They were typically off-white or cream, knit in the natural color of sheep's wool. The most common Aran sweater stitch is the many variations of the cable. These symbolize fishers' ropes and a lattice or basket stitch representing a fisherman's basket.