BonneGueule x Inis Meáin: our summer linen sweater

For this collab', a wind of marine freshness is blowing over BonneGueule!

We offer you our very first summer sweater, a model from Inis Meáin reworked for BonneGueule with our own cut, and a color exclusively developed for us.

Reminder about Inis Meáin

It's a brand already well known to many of you, particularly because we had already collaborated with it 2 years ago, on a chunky winter knit cardigan .

You made it such a success that it was one of the rare collabs that we brought back to our shop twice...

At the time, we explained in detail how Tarlach, a Dublin entrepreneur, had resurrected an entire local craft by giving the inhabitants of the small island of Inis Meáin the opportunity to express their unique know-how in knitting, thus creating the brand of the same name.

It really is a brand that benefits from such advanced know-how that the quality of its knitwear simply goes further than what is normally done in luxury. On this point, Inis Meáin can truly boast of competing with the big names thanks to the ancestral know-how of the island's inhabitants.

(And it is no coincidence that the multi-brand e-shops that distribute it are initially dedicated to the most prestigious brands.)

But images are sometimes better than words, and we suggest you review our report on Inis Meáin, to better understand what you are dealing with.

Along the way, we will never cease to be amazed by these landscapes which are the source of inspiration for the brand's work...

Why a “summer sweater”?

We can already see you coming, telling us “But in summer we don’t wear sweaters, right?”

It's a bit of a misnomer, because you're not ONLY going to wear it in summer. It's also a sweater for spring.
Anyway, yes, a sweater for sunny days definitely has its uses!

See that whole time of year where it's hot during the day, but quite cool in the morning and evening?
I don't know about you, but every year when spring arrives I find myself stupidly cold even though it's 20° in the afternoon...
Simply because it's too hot to wear a wool knit, but too cold in the morning to only be in a t-shirt or shirt.

Hence the interest in a 100% linen sweater, with a well-opened knit to let air through. It will protect you during cooler times of the day while being ventilated for times when the sun is stronger.

And in addition to being thermoregulating, linen has the advantage of drying very quickly and wicking away perspiration and humidity very well. And for once, it's really a sweater that I can wear next to your skin, if you're going to the beach for example.

Thanks to its very airy side, it's a real joy, and it won't stay wet for too long if you sweat in it or get splashed by the waves.

In terms of style, the very marked character of linen (and this very particular knit which I will tell you about below) will offer much more depth and character to your outfits than a simple light, smooth sweatshirt, or your casual shirt worn alone. .

We opted for a relaxed fit.

High-level knitwear

Obviously, for a brand of the level of Inis Meáin, the knitwear is entirely fully fashioned , and its construction is completely remeshed .

As with our own knits, this will be the guarantee of a cleaner fit and better comfort.

A unique knitting technique

But what is surprising about this sweater is that the apparently "raw" and simple aspect of knitting hides, on the contrary, a fairly astonishing level of complexity.

Let's break down what's going on...

A beige thread speckled with gray

The basis of this sweater is a beautiful beige linen thread, sparse with a beautiful dark gray which appears from time to time on the knit. From the outside, you would think that it is a simple classic knit similar to an "English rib", a stitch that you find on many sweaters.

But then what creates all these little white reliefs that we see in the mesh? The secret is revealed on the back of the knitting...

The “floating jacquard”, the foam of the island of Inis Meáin

What appeared to be a simple white speckling from the outside is actually the result of a "hybrid" knitting technique.

Thanks to a technique called “floating jacquard” , the expert workers of Inis Meáin combine the classic look of the English coast, with this "inside net".

This idea was inspired by the appearance of the sea foam in summer, whose calm contrasts with the terrible storms that can hit the island in winter. It is also an obvious nod to local tradition, recalling the appearance of a fishing net.

Another important detail: we have already told you that the brand likes to go to great lengths to constantly innovate in its knitting stitches.

Well you should know that here, the program which is responsible for knitting this stitch creates a random interior pattern.

Each sweater will therefore be a little unique, and you will never find exactly the same knit twice!

Thanks to this technique, the white thread delicately shades the beige, while creating a subtle detail on the reverse side, which will be revealed when you roll up the sleeves of your sweater, for example.

To tell you the truth, it's really the kind of thing that makes us dream: we've never seen it anywhere else, and we take a certain pleasure in being able to offer you something unique on a piece as classic as a sweater !

Rolled and hand-stitched edges

We told you above that Inis Meáin often went even further than what is usually found in luxury.

This is truly a telling example: the expert hands of their workshops take the time to carry out this manual finishing, which brings a certain subtlety to the piece. These finishes are almost no longer done today, because they are considered too superfluous in the interests of industrial profitability.

The reason for this, as you can imagine, is the difficulty of the task, the time required to carry it out, but above all, the absence of qualified workers for this type of operation these days...

The collar also benefits from this, and it really contributes to the character of the piece and its relaxed side.

A “Masters Of Linen” linen, traceable to France and Belgium

It’s not just a source of French (and French-speaking) pride to have French and Belgian linen.

Because these are above all the most renowned sources in the world for this material. And linen from this region of Europe produces the most beautiful fibers, with great robustness, a lovely hold on light and a pleasant hand.

Imagine that the flax that grows here (particularly in Normandy) is prized by the best spinning mills for its quality.

And for once, we have here the Masters Of Linen certification, a guarantee of excellence in terms of quality, traceability, and ecology.

A few words to finish...

Honestly, you always have to show restraint when it comes to talking about "unique" and not overuse superlatives about a product, but here I think we can say without hesitation that we have never seen a sweater like this from another brand.

I really doubt you'll be able to find this anywhere other than Inis Meáin. It's almost a product that could be described as "experimental".

To be completely frank, this is NOT the indestructible cotton sweatshirt either, it will require a little care.

The knitting stitch is quite loose and open, and you will have to be careful not to snag it, especially the threads on the inside.

Despite everything, the sweater is made of linen, an inherently robust material, and the thread is quite thick and strong. So there should be no durability issues as long as you follow this caution.

Did our “foam” sweater catch your eye?

This summer piece is available on our e-shop and in our boutique in Paris , Bordeaux , and Lyon .