Meet the Maker's - Bronagh

Here at Aran Woollen Mills, we are grateful every day for the landscape that inspires us, the long standing tradition of Aran knitwear and the chance to contribute to the world’s fashion industry in a new, sustainable way. However, all of this wouldn’t be possible without the passion, dedication and talent of our amazing team. The people that keep Aran Woollen Mills moving every day are the real gems behind the magic of our knitwear, and we thought it was time to celebrate them. Over the next while we’ll be putting a well deserved spotlight on some of our magnificent team members and we cannot wait for you to get to know them a little better.

Meet Bronagh - Knitwear Designer

To start off, we’re delighted to introduce you to Bronagh O’Connor, our amazing knitwear designer. Bronagh’s talent has gifted us the chance to craft knitwear that not only honours the rich tradition of Aran wool but also keeps our feet firmly in the 21st century and we are in awe of her work every day. We sat down to have a chat with her about what she does and what inspires her. Wrap yourself up in your Aran knitwear, make your favourite beverage and get to know Bronagh a little better!

 First off Bronagh, tell us a little bit about your role.

I am the knitwear designer here at Aran Woollen Mills, and so that means I’m responsible for designing the garments and ensuring that we’re honouring the tradition while still staying up to date with current trends, cuts and styles. As a designer, it’s my job to not only design knitwear that looks and feels good on the wearer but also that is practical, sustainable and honours the timeless traditions of Aran knitwear.

Did you always work in the Knitwear industry?

I did yes, when I started my career I worked in fashion and worked my way up, learning from experienced designers and crafters. I always knew I wanted to be in the fashion industry. It’s great to work in a creative way but also feel like you’re contributing to something super important. With Aran Woollen Mills, it feels even more exciting as there’s a huge focus on heritage and paying our respects to crafters and makers that came before.

What inspires you when designing new pieces?

The knitwear from the past always plays a huge role in the design process. We like to spend a lot of time examining images and pieces from a very traditional viewpoint to ensure we’re always honouring the roots of the craft. We don’t ever want to steer too far away from the tradition, otherwise we’ll lose the spirit of it. But at the same time we look to current styles and cuts and are able to play with a much wider colour  range. That’s where the contemporary perspective comes in and brings a modernity to each piece.

Aran Woollen Mills is a family run business. Do you feel this impacts your work?

Absolutely, the atmosphere in the workplace is always a positive one. We all feel very looked after and I really do enjoy coming to work every day. I think also it’s great to see a business where every member of staff is extremely committed and involved in the whole process. We see the knitwear from design to shipping and each of us care about every step of the process. In the fashion industry you don’t always get the chance to see the whole journey of your designs and that is largely down to the fact that the Managing Director, Vincent, cares deeply about the business, the staff and the people that we’re crafting for.

Do you currently have a favourite piece from the Aran collection?

There you have it! A little insight into the wonderful mind of Bronagh, our talented knitwear designer. We can’t thank her enough for her incredible contribution to Aran Woollen Mills.

You can have a look at her current favourite piece of Aran Woollen Mills knitwear here!