Brand Your Brollies

Branded umbrellas have more functions than you may first realise. Perhaps you are looking for a corporate silk parasol to shade your delicate features from sun? Or perhaps a more manly affair is in order, to protect you from the bitter elements. Or maybe your part of the Byzantine church, and need an umbrella for religious purposes? Or a keen photographer and need one for portraits? Or for something more sinister, like a Bulgarian umbrella that shoots poison. Or perhaps you innocently want to decorate your Pina Colada?

 To clarify a point and make a distinction…

 The term parasol usually refers to an item designed to protect one from the sun, while an umbrella refers to a device more suited to protect one from the rain. The word umbrella is from the Latin word ‘umbra’, which in turn derives from the Ancient Greek ‘ómbros’. Its meaning is shade or shadow. The word parasol came into being from the word ‘para’ meaning stop or shield, and ‘sol’ meaning sun.

The first basic umbrellas were invented over four thousand years ago, with evidence of them being used through the ancient dynasties of Egypt, Assyria, Greece, Rome and China. It is more likely that these ancient parasols where designed to shade the ancient aristocracies from the sun, rather than decorate their Del boy cocktails.It was considered until relatively recently to be an accessory suitable only for women. That was until a Persian traveller and writer, by the name of Jonas Hanway (1712-86), carried and used an umbrella publicly in England for thirty years. Thanks mainly to him; the umbrella became popular among gentlemen too, with them often referring to umbrellas as a “Hanway.” Hilariously, a footman by the name of John Macdonald noted in his memoirs that on using his umbrella, someone had shouted at him ‘Frenchman, why don’t you get a coach?’

Four thousand years later the first umbrella shop arrived on 53 New Oxford St London in 1830, and went by the name of “James Smith and Sons”, and is still open for business today. These umbrellas were considered quite a luxury, being made from either wood or whalebone and covered with alpaca or oiled canvas, with the curved handles made from harder woods like ebony.

It was in 1852, when Samuel Fox invented the steel ribbed kind, which are recognisable today. The industrious chap set up the ‘English Steels Company,’ to manufacture these umbrellas to a wider market. Interestingly the common umbrella was the inspiration behind the creation of the parachute. By the Victorian era, parasols became very popular to keep the sun at bay, as pale skin was all the rage. They were made from silk and fine cottons, with extra trimmings such as fringing, tassels and lace.

It is hotly disputed as to who invented the first collapsible or telescopic umbrella. In 1920s Hans Haupt in Berlin made a pocket umbrella. While in 1930s America, a collapsible umbrella  was produced called the ‘Growey’’. Both sides claim to have invented the first collapsible umbrella.

Stronger nylon canopies came into being in the 1950s, which made the manufacturing of different colours popular, while clear canopies being particularly fashionable in the 1960s. These days corporate umbrellas tend to be made from very light weight and Teflon coated fabrics, but are essentially the same design that Samuel Fox made in 1852.

Order your new branded umbrellas from Gift Selection or The Umbrella Store today.

Beyond The Call of Duty

Promotional umbrellas are a quality corporate gift (especially this time of year), and are utilized by all sorts of organisations. One of our more unusual clients wanted their branded umbrellas to be used at their Leicester Square premier - but not for a glitzy new film…

Umbrella Store supplied some quality branded umbrellas for the clever people behind the new block buster computer game - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. For those who don’t know, Modern Warfare 2 is set five years after the conclusion of Call of Duty 4. Despite the efforts of the Marines and the SAS, those pesky Ultranationalists seize control of Russia and start a reign of terror across Europe!

The hardcore (some might say sad), gamers were treated to a fanfare of martial music and Jeeps. While US Marine look-a-likes took the invited audience down a camouflage carpet into the Vue cinema, while the crowds leaned over the barriers.

However anyone will tell you that the highlight of the night was seeing the promotional umbrellas that were there too. The organisers rightly decided that branded AK-47s wouldn’t be very tasteful, and decided having some promotional umbrellas made would make for a smart marketing tool.

If you need your brollies in a hurry like they did - you know who to call.

Looking Into Golf Wear

When choosing a corporate golf umbrella, I would advise always to buy quality, as golf has a reputation of being a dignified and professional game. One will be catering for an audience who will be expecting top end goods. Providing sub standard promotional golfing items, will mean that it is very likely your promotional items will not be used at all.

Promotional golf umbrellas should have an air of sophistication around them. Attractive and professional colour combinations are the order of the day rather than garish tones. Paying attention to the quality of the handle, the tone of the hue, the feel of the fabric and added details like buttons and covers are all important.

Promotional golf umbrella’s can have more to them then meets the eye. One needs to think about canopy’s, and I don’t mean what you nibble on at dinner parties. When choosing a corporate golf umbrella one has the option of a twin ribbed canopy, storm proof canopy, twin proof canopy. Other features to look out for are ergonomic handles, wooden handles or automatic handles.

The beauty of promotional golf umbrellas is the large print areas available for your corporate identity to be spread on. With many sporting events broadcasted on TV, your brand has the chance be seen by millions of people sat in their living rooms. Of course other promotional golf accessories like printed golf balls, and promotional golf tees can be tastefully matched to create a really impressive corporate gift.

Raindrops Keep…

What do you want your promotional umbrella to do? Are you looking for a corporate silk parasol to shade your delicate features from sun? Or are you after more of a manly affair - to protect you from the bitter elements…

Or maybe your part of the Byzantine church, and need an umbrella for religious purposes? Or a keen photographer and need one for portraits? Or for something more sinister, like a Bulgarian umbrella that shoots deadly poison…

Or perhaps you innocently want to decorate your Pina Colada? I must clarify a point and make a distinction…

The term parasol usually refers to an item designed to protect one from the sun, while an umbrella refers to a device more suited to protect one from the rain. The word umbrella is from the Latin word ‘umbra’, which in turn derives from the Ancient Greek ‘ómbros’. Its meaning is shade or shadow. The word parasol came into being from the word ‘para’ meaning stop or shield, and ‘sol’ meaning sun.

The first basic umbrellas were invented over four thousand years ago, with evidence of them being used through the ancient dynasties of Egypt, Assyria, Greece, Rome and China. It is more likely that these ancient parasols where designed to shade the ancient aristocracies from the sun, rather than decorate their Del boy cocktails.

It was considered until relatively recently to be an accessory suitable only for women. That was until a Persian traveller and writer, by the name of Jonas Hanway (1712-86), carried and used an umbrella publicly in England for thirty years. Thanks mainly to him; the umbrella became popular among gentlemen too, with them often referring to umbrellas as a “Hanway.”

Hilariously, a footman by the name of John Macdonald noted in his memoirs that on using his umbrella, someone had shouted at him ‘Frenchman, why don’t you get a coach?’

Four thousand years later the first umbrella shop arrived on 53 New Oxford St London in 1830, and went by the name of “James Smith and Sons”, and is still open for business today. These umbrellas were considered quite a luxury, being made from either wood or whalebone and covered with alpaca or oiled canvas, with the curved handles made from harder woods like ebony.

It was in 1852, when Samuel Fox invented the steel ribbed kind, which are recognisable today. The industrious chap set up the ‘English Steels Company,’ to manufacture these umbrellas to a wider market. Interestingly the common umbrella was the inspiration behind the creation of the parachute.

By the Victorian era, parasols became very popular to keep the sun at bay, as pale skin was all the rage. They were made from silk and fine cottons, with extra trimmings such as fringing, tassels and lace.

It is hotly disputed as to who invented the first collapsible or telescopic umbrella. In 1920s Hans Haupt in Berlin made a pocket umbrella. While in 1930s America, a collapsible umbrella was produced called the ‘Growey’’. Both sides claim to have invented the first collapsible umbrella.

Stronger nylon canopies came into being in the 1950s, which made the manufacturing of different colours popular, while clear canopies being particularly fashionable in the 1960s. These days corporate umbrellas tend to be made from very light weight and Teflon coated fabrics, but are essentially the same design that Samuel Fox made in 1852.