UmbrellaHeaven's Profile

Bio

I set up my own business to design and sell innovative, quality umbrellas and parasols a few years ago. I work from home in Leighton Buzzard, UK and can be contacted on +44 (0)1525 219794 or robmcali [!at] aol.com

I work in a converted garage at the side of my house. My brother set up our websites - he is self-taught. Although some of our various websites look a bit corporate and professional, don't be fooled! There really are only two of us. The girls modelling our brollies are actually the barmaids at our local pub!

All the designs you see are mine. The umbrellas are absolutely made by hand. They are different from the umbrellas that you would buy elsewhere because we make a frame with not one but two sets of spokes. This makes them very strong.

In addition to this we make them with miniature hinges built into each of the ribs. If the wind eventually becomes so strong that they blow inside out they don't break - you just reach up and slide them back down into shape.

They are made of mainly waterproof polyester material (cut from the roll, dyed and hand-sewn to our unique frames) although we are now also experimenting with satins to create a more upscale product with an inner lining. We use a range of frills and brocades for edging. The frames are made quite simply using pre-coated tube and u-form section steel cut to measure. The shafts of our new "Ascot" range of ladies weatherproof parasols are made from gold anodised aluminium.

Male, Born on April 28

Favorite Materials

satin, silk, linen, polyester, polypongee, brocade, gauze, aluminium, steel, leather