A brief history of umbrellas
Did you know that the first umbrella is believed to have been invented in China, over 4000 years ago?
Designed as a shade from the sun, and typically used by the 'elite' (we're talking royalty kinda level), sun parasols are the first known record of what we now describe as umbrellas.
Back then, umbrellas were a lot more sustainable than they are today. Typically made from paper or palm leaves on a bamboo stick, umbrellas began to evolve and as a symbol of status, designs became increasingly intricate.
As umbrellas developed, China led a central role in innovation - creating the very first water resistant umbrella by waxing the paper used for the umbrella shade. Skip forward to the 17th century, and umbrellas were fast becoming a hit in Western countries including England, France and Italy. Around this time, umbrellas started being viewed as no longer an accessory for just women, but for all.
That's when things started to get really weird. Taken by the idea of umbrellas as fashion accessories, during the French revolution umbrellas became more and more intricate, with sculptors and craftspeople designing intricate handles as works of art. Because such intricate umbrellas came at a cost, by the 19th century, inventors we're working hard to find new ways to sell umbrellas to the masses by focusing on attention grabbing.
Umbrellas started appearing with hidden weapons, equipped with perfume storage or smoking accessories, or other personalisation by request. We've got a bit boring since then.
In the mid-90s, the first telescopic compact umbrella was born, and the modern umbrella was created. Today, umbrellas are one of most reached for accessories, and demand is high. That's created some new problems - umbrellas have moved away from bamboo and palm towards single use plastic.
At SOAKED, we're setting out to do things differently. By learning from the past, and looking to the future, our mission is to create umbrellas designed to last, and to make a statement on the street.
Meg, Co-founder
SOAKED Umbrellas
