Irish knitter Gabrielle Malone has collaborated with Fáilte Ireland to craft a bespoke cardigan inspired by Taylor Swift before the megastar hits Dublin this week with her smash-hit Eras Tour.
"The cardigan nods to places that Taylor has visited and includes easter eggs that fans can find in discreet places, such as the inside of the cuff or back of the neck," Malone wrote on her website while unveiling the 'Taylor Cardigan.'
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Announcing the cardigan collaboration, Fáilte Ireland said this week: "When Swift wore an Aran-style jumper in the promotional images for 'Folklore,' she put this classic piece of Irish clothing back in the spotlight."
Indeed, Swift was photographed looking cozy in an Aran sweater for the album - which features a song titled "Cardigan" - that she dropped as a surprise in July 2020.
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Fáilte Ireland said: "Since then, the fashion world has gone mad for the Aran knit, and Fáilte Ireland collaborated with artist Gabrielle Malone to create a bespoke cardigan for Swift, featuring nods to the places she’s visited in the past.
"There’s a honeycomb stitch inspired by Donegal beekeepers, a seed stitch for Ireland's Hidden Heartlands, a brick stitch for Ireland’s Ancient East, and a hurdle stitch for the cobblestones of Dublin.
"There are even little odes to Swift herself, with 1989 stitched into the collar, her lucky number 13 on one cuff, and her initials on the other.
"The best news? If you want one just like it, you can download the pattern for free and knit your very own Taylor cardie."
Of the free pattern, Malone said: "The goal of this collaboration was to create something not just for Taylor, but her fans, which is why we released the knitwear pattern, for free, over at Discover Ireland.
"The pattern is suitable for beginners and has a step-by-step breakdown, a section on knitwear terminology, and customizable to your own personal preference.
"We hope you love making your very own Taylor Cardigan."
The bespoke Taylor Cardigan has been unveiled as Swiftmania takes hold across Ireland ahead of the arrival of the Eras Tour, which will be hosted at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on June 28, 29, and 30.
The sold-out concerts are one of the hottest tickets in Ireland at the moment, prompting Bank of Ireland to warn consumers that 'too good to be true' resale offers are likely fraudulent.
This will be the fourth time Swift is headlining one of her tours in Ireland. She brought her Speak Now world tour to Belfast and Dublin in 2011, her 1989 world tour to Dublin in 2015, and her Reputation world tour to Dublin in 2018.
Taylor Swift performing in Croke Park in 2018 for her Reputation world tour. (RollingNews.ie)
The Grammy winner has also spent a considerable amount of time in Ireland in a personal capacity, specifically in Co Donegal and Co Limerick. She's also visited Co Wicklow as she references it on her 2022 album "Midnights."
Last week, EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum revealed that Swift actually has Irish roots.
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