Get the Banshees look | financial times

the costumes in The Banshees of Inisherin – a black comedy about a platonic breakup between two friends living on a remote island off the coast of Ireland – shouldn’t have been a topic of conversation. And yet it was the knitwear that emerged as the breakout star, particularly the chunky rust-red jumper worn by Pádraic, played by Colin Farrell, midway through. “He just took on a life of his own,” says costume designer Eimer Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh, who handled all the knitwear for the film. “I love knitwear, but I definitely wasn’t expecting that. [reaction]”.

Inspired by the traditional Aran jumpers worn by fishermen in the early 20th century, the knit in question featured jersey panels with purl and moss diamond stitching, though it was the large, pointed collar in particular that offered a twist. unique to the Aran style. “Obviously I was impressed by the film, but I was really impressed by the sweater,” says Aoibheann MacNamara, co-founder of the Galway-based slow fashion label. The Tweed Project, who is now collaborating with Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh on a collection based on the cult jumper. “Knowing the spirit of The Tweed Project and how they support local crafts, it seemed like a really good match,” says Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh.

Launching this month, the jumper (known as The Colin) will be available in four colours: tomato red, turquoise, Jacob gray and the cream báinín (€790), made from Donegal and Kerry wool. In keeping with the tradition of hand-knitting in Ireland, each custom piece is made by two weavers from the West of Ireland, taking around 50 hours to produce. “It’s a very slow process,” says MacNamara. “But it’s a celebration of old techniques that need to be protected, because if you can’t buy an Aran sweater in Galway or the Aran Islands, then it’s a sad situation.”

The trio hope it can inspire a new generation of knitters. “In Ireland, knitting has always been seen as a woman’s job,” says Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh, “so I love that Triona, Aoibheann and I are supporting these women knitting at home, and we really try to keep the craft alive.”