A Fisherman and his gansey

Considering the previous post, I am most interested in how an item of textiles can characterise a family. The picture relates to how historical the clothes that a fisherman wear determines his heritage.

"A fisherman's Gansey was once his most distinctive feature. A navy blue jumper, patterned on the top half and part of the sleeves, was a proud possession.
It was likely to be knitted by a loved one and carried a pattern characteristic of the fishing port or family.
Ganseys could be found all around the North Sea coast from the early 19th century to the middle of the 20th century and the tradition lives on with a few Norfolk fishermen today."

http://www.maritimeheritageeast.org.uk/museums/cromer-museum/ganseys/fishermen-and-their-ganseys