An umbrella is evocative of many thoughts and feelings. Let us
put these in words... protection, bright colors, happiness on a rainy
day, bobbing umbrellas on crowded avenues, awash with rain...
Beach umbrellas gaily colored, flapping in the sea breeze, offering enough shade for drowsy sunbathers
A busy market, vendors setting up their stalls, first pitching that huge faded umbrella bearing the famous brand name of a telecom provider, which first promoted the company but now offers thankful shelter from the blazing sun...
But on a more serious note, umbrellas are there for a reason: to offer protection against the elements, typically the rain; while the parasol signifies an umbrella designed for protection from the sun's rays.
A Brief History of The Umbrella
The collapsible umbrella has its first mention in recorded history in China on the carriage of Wang Mang founder of the short lived Xin Dynasty (ruling 9-23 AD). Indeed, collapsible umbrellas seemed to have been the rage then, with complex bronze casted socketed hinges and locking slides and bolts discovered, which could have been used for umbrellas and parasols. In fact the Chinese character for umbrella (san) is a pictograph resembling an umbrella.
They were in vogue in ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt and the Middle East too, not to forget India and the far east. In Europe, however, cloaks were the preferred shield against inclement weather, rather than an umbrella, which does not make an appearance till the middle of the seventeenth century, possibly adopted from the Chinese culture. Since then, their use became widespread, though that had connotations of poverty, as only those who did not have carriages were seen to be holding umbrellas!
The first umbrellas had wooden frames with leather and animal skins providing the shade. Leather was replaced by oiled silk, which over time gave way to silk and gingham, relatively lighter material. Wooden frames were replaced by telescoping steel trunks and new materials like cotton, nylon and plastic film have replaced silk in the modern umbrella.
Umbrellas are a common sight then. What are the different features umbrella manufacturers have incorporated into their umbrellas?
· Windproof
· UV Protection
· Compact style - 3 folding
· Double layer
· Ergonomic handles - for example C shaped
· Fierce Wind and Heavy Rain proof
· Auto closed inverted umbrella (for car drivers)
· Auto open
· Special color change under sunlight
· LED lit umbrella
What should one look for in a modern umbrella?
· The best size that seems to fit all is one which is about ten or eleven inches long
· A vented canopy or double layered fabric helps to keep the umbrella from flipping inside out in a strong wind
· A slim cushioned grip that works with either hand will help you to manage the umbrella and more bags.
· A telescopic frame that collapses into not more than two sections. More than that, it gets messy and you are likely to get your hand pinched while opening or closing the umbrella
· Nothing too expensive. It is frankly not worth spending too much on an umbrella when there are chances that you may misplace it, or it might not withstand the current year's weather vagaries
Beach umbrellas gaily colored, flapping in the sea breeze, offering enough shade for drowsy sunbathers
A busy market, vendors setting up their stalls, first pitching that huge faded umbrella bearing the famous brand name of a telecom provider, which first promoted the company but now offers thankful shelter from the blazing sun...
But on a more serious note, umbrellas are there for a reason: to offer protection against the elements, typically the rain; while the parasol signifies an umbrella designed for protection from the sun's rays.
A Brief History of The Umbrella
The collapsible umbrella has its first mention in recorded history in China on the carriage of Wang Mang founder of the short lived Xin Dynasty (ruling 9-23 AD). Indeed, collapsible umbrellas seemed to have been the rage then, with complex bronze casted socketed hinges and locking slides and bolts discovered, which could have been used for umbrellas and parasols. In fact the Chinese character for umbrella (san) is a pictograph resembling an umbrella.
They were in vogue in ancient Greece, Rome, Egypt and the Middle East too, not to forget India and the far east. In Europe, however, cloaks were the preferred shield against inclement weather, rather than an umbrella, which does not make an appearance till the middle of the seventeenth century, possibly adopted from the Chinese culture. Since then, their use became widespread, though that had connotations of poverty, as only those who did not have carriages were seen to be holding umbrellas!
The first umbrellas had wooden frames with leather and animal skins providing the shade. Leather was replaced by oiled silk, which over time gave way to silk and gingham, relatively lighter material. Wooden frames were replaced by telescoping steel trunks and new materials like cotton, nylon and plastic film have replaced silk in the modern umbrella.
Umbrellas are a common sight then. What are the different features umbrella manufacturers have incorporated into their umbrellas?
· Windproof
· UV Protection
· Compact style - 3 folding
· Double layer
· Ergonomic handles - for example C shaped
· Fierce Wind and Heavy Rain proof
· Auto closed inverted umbrella (for car drivers)
· Auto open
· Special color change under sunlight
· LED lit umbrella
What should one look for in a modern umbrella?
· The best size that seems to fit all is one which is about ten or eleven inches long
· A vented canopy or double layered fabric helps to keep the umbrella from flipping inside out in a strong wind
· A slim cushioned grip that works with either hand will help you to manage the umbrella and more bags.
· A telescopic frame that collapses into not more than two sections. More than that, it gets messy and you are likely to get your hand pinched while opening or closing the umbrella
· Nothing too expensive. It is frankly not worth spending too much on an umbrella when there are chances that you may misplace it, or it might not withstand the current year's weather vagaries
Many Umbrella manufacturers are B2B suppliers because umbrellas are used as promotional material too. Promotional umbrellas form a sizable chunk of their business and perform the dual function of providing protection and promoting the client's business
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