There are few garments as stubbornly enduring—and quietly expressive—as fisherman sweaters. Originally built for men whose daily commute involved the North Atlantic, the sweater style has been reinterpreted so many times over the last century that “fisherman” has basically become shorthand for any chunky cable knit.
But the real thing has weight. Texture. Purpose. It’s a garment designed to keep you alive on open water, not just warm on the walk to your local. And while modern versions run the gamut from featherweight cotton to cloud-soft cashmere, the best fisherman sweaters still carry that same spirit of utility and romance.
A true fisherman sweater has a few key characteristics: it’s chunky, tactile, and built for actual weather. The iconic style—what most people picture—is the Aran sweater, developed in the early 20th century on the Aran Islands off Ireland’s west coast. These were originally hand-knit from untreated wool, rich in natural lanolin that acted as a built-in water-repellent. Patterns weren’t just decorative; the cables, diamonds, and honeycombs often had symbolic meanings tied to fishing, farming, and family lineage. Whether or not each clan truly had its own stitch pattern is debated, but the romance has stuck around for a reason.
Over time, the definition got looser. By the ’60s, American preppies had adopted fisherman knits for campus life, and by the ’80s and ’90s, designers everywhere were riffing on the form: oversized, shrunken, cotton, mohair, even synthetics. Today, it’s less about strict heritage than about honoring what made the original so appealing—a certain rugged coziness, the sense that this is what you’d want on your back if the weather turned suddenly and the sea got loud.
The picks below range from affordable everyday layers to heirloom woolens made the old way. But they all share that essential quality: the feeling of a garment built to do a job—and look good doing it.
The Fisherman Knit Hit List
L.L.Bean Signature Cotton Fisherman Sweater
L.L.Bean
Signature Cotton Fisherman Sweater
A classic American take: L.L.Bean’s signature fisherman sweater merges durable cotton, traditional cabling, and the kind of fit that makes you understand why Bean sweaters have been campus favorites for decades. It comes in a ton of sizes (including tall) and seven different colors, including the classic Harry looking for Sally, and an unexpectedly beautiful ‘Deep Coffee’ brown.
Todd Snyder Donegal Cable Knit Sweater
Todd Snyder
Donegal Cable Knit Sweater
Todd Snyder’s modern riff on the fisherman—peep the herringbone effect—has Donegal flecking and a clean, wearable shape. Available in oat or navy, it’s the “dressiest” fisherman knit on the list—polished without losing texture.
Buck Mason Seastack Wool Tweed Cable Crew
Buck Mason
Seastack Wool Tweed Cable Crew
Buck Mason’s rugged, tweedy wool fisherman—which has been garment-rinsed a few times for a broken-in feel from the jump—is one of the closest sweaters on this list to the original seafaring brief. Thick, warm, and straightforward, it’s a real workhorse sweater that’ll pair beautifully with everything else in (and honestly, out of) the Buck Mason universe.
Inis Meáin Celebration Cable-Knit Merino Wool & Cashmere Sweater
Inis Meáin
Celebration Merino Wool & Cashmere Sweater
Forget the talk about Aran-inspired sweaters for a second—Inis Meáin Knitting Company still makes Aran sweaters the true, painstaking, hand-finished, traditional way, in their own knitting factory on the Aran islands. One of the finest names in Irish knitwear, this is heritage elevated: island traditions interpreted with luxe yarns and impeccable finishing.
J.Crew Wallace & Barnes Wool Cableknit Sweater
Wallace & Barnes
Wool Cableknit Sweater
Wallace & Barnes, J.Crew’s beloved, renewed workwear line, consistently nails heritage-inspired pieces. This one leans into the weight and density of an archive piece, but trades the weird smell for a stunning mixed-stitch patten and 100% wool fabrication. Think vintage L.L.Bean, but refined.
Manresa The Oysterman Sweater
Manresa
The Oysterman Sweater
Brooklyn-made from Scottish Shetland wool, with the most charming little pockets I’ve ever seen and a perfect rolled collar. The handfeel is crisp, the fit is thoughtful, and the whole thing feels like a contemporary love letter to classic island knitwear. The cult-favorite brand itself is so stoked on it, in fact, that they’ve called it “The best garment we’ve ever made.” You be the judge.
Chamula Handknit Fisherman Pullover
Chamula
Handknit Fisherman Pullover
Chamula’s fisherman is hand-knit in Mexico from soft merino wool. Organic, human, and beautifully imperfect—this is the kind of design that immediately feels personal.
Drake’s Ecru Wool Aran Jumper
When Drake’s tackles a classic, it doesn’t do half measures. Knit in Scotland using British wool, with the proper heft and texture you expect from a true Aran, this is an heirloom piece, full stop. (The brand says it was inspired by a saying from the islands themselves; “Go Maire tú is go gcaithe tú é”—“May you live long to wear it.”)
Rhythm Mohair Fisherman Knit
Rhythm
Mohair Fisherman Knit
A soft, slightly shaggy, under-$100 mohair blend that gives you the fisherman-y silhouette without the bulk. Great for someone who wants the vibe without committing to heavy wool.
Oliver Charles Winter Cable Knit
Oliver Charles
Winter Cable Knit
Made from yak khullu—a prized natural, cruelty-free fiber from a yak’s undercoat—then 3D-knit to order in Brooklyn, Oliver Charles is bringing some new competition to the sweater market. It’s technical, sustainable, and surprisingly warm for its lightness—a smart upgrade for anyone who runs hot.
Asher Andre Relaxed Cotton-Cashmere Cable Sweater
Asher
Andre Relaxed Cotton-Cashmere Cable Sweater
If you want the comfort of cashmere with the structure of cotton, a cotton-cashmere blend unsurprisingly hits the sweet spot. It’s slim enough to layer, but still textured enough to sail through qualification as a true fisherman knit.
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