Inis Meáin: Made in Ireland
Reinventing Tradition
Inis Meáin is one of the three Aran Islands that lie on the far edge of Europe, thirty miles off the western shore of Ireland. It’s a place of wild and rugged beauty that has enchanted many a visitor. But to make a living on the island has always called for a spirit of independence, resourcefulness and innovation.
Inis Meáin Knitting Company was founded on the island in 1976 by Tarlach de Blácam and Áine Ní Chonghaile, inspired by the unique spirit, environment and heritage of the place.
Despite appearances, Inis Meáin Knitting Co. is a very modern company, with a highly-educated, well-trained workforce using the most up-to-date machinery. But how they use their machinery differs from most other companies with the same technology – they choose not to mass produce. Instead, they specialize in small runs of new styles, and change the settings on the machinery when necessary so that they can produce up to 50 different styles each season.