THE determination of Maire Hughes to find a way to harness and sustain local employment in Westport, and bring premium heritage Aran products from ‘Westport to the World’, has been the driving force behind Aran Woollen Mills, which she founded in 1965.

Her vision has been realised by her children, in particular her sons and current owners of the business, Vincent and Patrick Hughes.

Today the company is the design-led global leader in the manufacturing of made in Ireland traditional and contemporary Aran knitwear.

This September, Aran Woollen Mills will launch the first capsule collection under their own brand, available directly through a new dedicated e-commerce website.

Manufacturing for trade, wholesale and white label garments since its inception, Aran Woollen Mills has been swift to adapt to the dynamic marketplace that has changed rapidly over recent years, embracing technology, innovation, people and the digital era. This adaptability has meant that it is one of the few textile companies thriving, designing, and manufacturing collections in the west of Ireland.

The pandemic accelerated the consumer shift to e-commerce nearly overnight and has seen consumers become more conscious of where their purchases, particularly fashion, are coming from.

By expanding the business with the further development of their own brand alongside their existing manufacturing services, Aran hopes to allow them to really connect with a new audience, provide consumers with sustainable garment options and highlight the history and people of County Mayo both at home and around the world.

As a design-led manufacturing company, this further development of their own brand will allow Aran to become more agile with their product and product development for trade as well as consumer. The smaller capsule collections will allow them to trial new designs and gain consumer feedback before bringing the products to trade, minimising the chances of the production of surplus stock. An adaption that will positively impact both finances and the environment.

Said Vincent Hughes: “We hold the tradition of Aran knitting close to everything we design and produce while also understanding that consumers want newness, product diversification as well as the changing consumer needs and expectations.

“As a business we have constantly developed and innovated over the years, from experimenting with colours, to developing new and exciting yarn mixes such as our super-soft yarn. We are excited to be able to explore this new route to market, offering consumers premium sustainably made garments while continuing to create skilled jobs in the west of Ireland and keeping the heritage of Aran knitting well and truly at the forefront of Irish retail exports for many years to come.”

To support the company’s expansion and to support the development of their own brand, Aran has continued to invest in skilled jobs across Mayo and top of the range technology.

Currently providing 100 jobs in the area, the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Belmullet in 2021 combined with a second factory which will be up and running by late 2022, the county will see up to 50 new jobs created by 2023.

This process, Vincent explains, would not have been possible without the support they received from the local community and organisations.

“The local support we received in establishing our facility in Bellmullet has been invaluable. Without the help of the like of Údarás na Gaeltachta, who we worked closely with to establish a new manufacturing footprint in the area, and the terrific support given to us by businesses such as Brogans of Bellmullet who facilitated our lease, the company’s future expansion would have been a much lengthier process,” he stated.

The new website marks a new chapter for the brand. Enterprise Ireland have supported the business on their digital journey over the last 18 months, allowing Aran sweaters to be viewed through a more modern lens.

“Aran knitwear is much more than a tourism product and we want to help our customers showcase all the benefits of Aran knitwear to the world stage,” explained Vincent.

Aran Woollen Mills will launch their new direct to consumer website on September 22 and introduce their first capsule collection under the Aran Woollen Mills Brand.

For more information, please visit their trade website: www.aranwoollenmills.trade.