I’ll have to do a post about the use of umbrellas in Ghana soon, but for a first geographical umbrella post I’ve picked Bali.
Balinese umbrellas are called tedung or “to guard” and are used in religious ceremonies. There’s more information on their history and construction here, and this site and this site sell them for your garden.
(Almost unrelated, I found one of these on the delightful Design Mom blog and I am never buying anything without looking at it again)
This gorgeous installation by Karuski features the kinds of umbrellas I’d like to make. I’m not sure how waterproof they are but I’d still carry one in a downpour – the warm glow of happiness surrounding me would dry me off in seconds.
Perhaps more genuinely useful than this “green” stand, this stand soaks up your leftover rain in a little sponge. But is it worth £80? Hmmm.
On the European theme started earlier today, this is apparently how Europe does umbrellas. They’re all rather stylish and look well-made (the Chartres is added to my wishlist), and seem pretty usable for day-to-day umbrellaring.
All, that is, apart from this one, which probably does cover your back well but looks a bit daft…
and is sold very creatively
As the rain began to pour, Anya frowned, worrying about the evening ahead. Would the rain ruin her best gown? Just then, Paul appeared in the doorway, holding the Chapelle. She smiled. He really did think of everything.
If Paul appeared in my doorway holding the Chapelle I’d worry that he’d been standing against a radiator which melted half his brolly, and I’d tell him to go home and bring me a proper one before I put it somewhere uncomfortable.
You’re walking down a dark and rainy street when your umbrella glows red and then pulses blue. Within seconds you’re chatting via bluetooth with another umbrella holder in the viscinity. It’s a project that Jonah Brucker-Cohen and Katherine Moriwaki put together in 2004 while investigating clothing and accessories as the active conduit through which people create network relationships in public space.
Brucker-Cohen’s website it very interesting, but my google doesn’t throw up much about Moriwaki since 2006. However the project was featured at this year’s SOS 4.8 International Event on Sustainability Art, so hopefully we could hear more about it soon.
This is what the internet was made for (this, porn, running in to school friends you’d tried to forget and cats talking textspeak).
Lovely Shirley has very kindly sent me a link to this Guy de Jean at Jean-Paul Gaultier umbrella. She didn’t sound too impressed, but I must admit it tickles my old fetish-outfit fancy. Even if it didn’t, I’m not sure I can go against Gaultier in these sad Eurotimes. He was apparently the French commentator for last week’s Eurovision disaster in which France’s intoxicating Jarvis-Cockeralike received a score almost as depressing as our own. Much as I love El Tel, I would have liked to have heard JP’s opinion even more.
Raaagh! That’s a spanking umbrella if ever I saw one.
Children’s umbrellas – are they cute or repulsive?
You see, I find the shape of this here fairy umbrella absolutely delightful, and the colours are pretty, and the pattern’s too small to see but seems attractive enough. The ears lend it a touch of Shreks appeal, and the handle is brilliant. So why do I look at it as a whole and cringe? I don’t have any offspring, but if I did would I want them toddling away before me beneath this multifeatured jumble of colour?
I suppose the ultimate choice is decided not what I like but what my child begs for day in, day out until I give up and spend my last hard-earned pennies on their every consumerist whim.
I think the pirate and the fireman umbrellas are the most fun. If I was 7 I think I’d prefer the pirate one to have a real gnarled old bastard of a pirate on it rather than a bestriped kiddy. But still, it has a big sword sticking out of it. And who knows what kids want? I’m 29.
I would like to make some children’s umbrellas but with all the regulations regarding small parts and chewable bits and age ranges and stuff it’ll probably be a while before I get on to that. When I do, they won’t be anywhere near as nice as all these. Well, that’s a depressing thought.
People know not to mention Rihanna to me. Yes it was an okay popsong (I didn’t like it for the first year, I have slow ears). And yes she is unbearably fit. And yes, it was a bit funny to echo the name of the unlucky girl at my last place of work who was called Ella. But there’s more to umbrellas than a song, isn’t there? Well the miniscule Barbadian has trounced me again by releasing her own range of bumbershoots. And what’s worse is… they look quite nice.
Edit: They did until I read this
This stylish manual umbrella features Rihanna’s name in Rhinestones across the tie strap… …each Rihanna Collection umbrella now comes with an exclusive Rihanna removable charm.
Yuck. The two-colour ones still look quite tasty.
