Member Article

Why the best umbrella is a Bucklesbury

Nothing is as certain as the uncertainty of weather, according to British people anyway. Experiencing an average of nearly 30 per cent rainy days in a typical year, England may not be blessed with the world’s best weather, but it is this inclement characteristic that makes it the heartland of a rich umbrella-making tradition that goes back to the 1700s.

One London-based brand is celebrating this unique heritage by bringing its quintessentially British ‘Rain Rested In England’ umbrellas to a growing global market.

Bucklesbury is a London-based umbrella maker and is one of the only English umbrella makers still handcrafting all their umbrellas in London the traditional way.  Bucklesbury embodies the rich tradition of exquisite craftsman-led small batch production that was the genesis of many of what have since become Europe’s biggest houses of luxury.

Who makes the best umbrellas?

Based in London, Bucklesbury builds umbrellas that celebrate the provenance of British umbrella-making.  The brand utilises trained artisan craftsmen to use the very same traditional umbrella making methods that have been preserved in London since 1805. 

Bucklesbury reveres this tradition of small batch production and boutique European luxury. This means that not only is each product meticulously handcrafted, like the wooden crook handles which are individually torched over real flames, but each item employs artisans in a respectful manner, giving them time to perfect their craft. Very little waste is produced in this manner of production, which feeds into the sustainability ethos that Bucklesbury holds dear.

The result is an immaculate finish: perfectly hand-sewn canopies, a sturdy framework and more importantly, a strong traditional umbrella that stands the test of both weather and time.

This is no mean feat considering the dwindling status of umbrella artisanry in England. According to Heritage Crafts, a British charity focusing on artisans, umbrella-making is now an endangered art form, with forms of it only being practised by approximately five companies across areas in London, Norfolk, Manchester and Yorkshire. Bucklesbury regards it as a duty to preserve the cultural heritage of traditional umbrella making in London.

How English are umbrellas?

Whilst England and London are the natural home for the world’s umbrella making, umbrellas may not have actually originated in Britain.  The history of the umbrella dates back to the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia, China and Egypt. The Normans who arrived in Britain from 1066 reportedly first popularised umbrellas in England. In the 1700s, umbrellas were far from being either pretty or portable. Popular among the genteel ladies of Italy and France, the most recognisable early umbrellas were made out of whalebones, a long and heavy stick, and complete with a canopy made out of wax-coated cotton, which wasn’t very waterproof.

During their early days in England, umbrellas were mainly carried by women to preserve their skin from sun exposure. It was one English gentleman, Jonas Hanway, who truly made umbrella history in Britain. In the mid 1700s, Hanway made the bold decision to use an umbrella to protect himself on the streets, one dark and rainy day in London. Being the first man to do so, he was violently confronted by taxi drivers and sedan chair carriers who reportedly “pelted him with rubbish” according to history magazine Look and Learn.

Hanway’s defiance may be the stuff of legends, but it is accepted by modern historians that he definitely popularised the carrying of umbrellas during casual outings. Thanks to this man’s very practical sartorial choice, umbrellas became synonymous with England's culture.

The ubiquity of umbrellas across England is also an ode to its world famous rainy weather. This is mainly the reason why each Bucklesbury umbrella carries a “Rain Tested In England” trademark. Today, Bucklesbury is the only umbrella maker in the world to carry it, which in part explains the umbrella makers’ success in selling its umbrellas all over the world.

What brand of umbrellas do the Royals use?

London in particular is a hotbed for iconic umbrellas, from the inimitable flying prototype popularised by Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins, to the clear-canopied brollies favoured by the late Queen and the rest of Britain’s royalty during their famous appearances at Buckingham Palace. From the hands of liveried doormen in clubland, to the wet courts of Wimbledon, umbrellas have made appearances in London society throughout modern history too.

A Bucklesbury umbrella showcases its sartorial and sometimes eccentric English origins in every way possible. Made with busy and modern women and men in mind, many of its designs are classic, displaying shades of ivory, forest green, champagne and black; while others offer bright hues, from orange to pink to red and yellow.

Bucklesbury umbrellas are meant to weather the storm, both in the city or town, or when you are enjoying a walking holiday in the great outdoors. These high aesthetic umbrellas also complete any outfit and are supple and stylish enough to save your summer wedding, with Bucklesbury pioneering the wedding umbrella as the saviour to many couples’ wedding day.

At the heart of every Bucklesbury umbrella are values of sustainability and a deep respect for the provenance of materials. Each umbrella shaft is designed from a single uncut piece of wood sourced from over 160 million hectares of forested locations across England which are accredited by Forest Stewardship Council UK. This organisation is the world’s most respected forest certification system, with strict environmental and sustainability standards.

What is the best umbrella company?

Although Bucklesbury banks on more rainy days in Britain, the future is bright for the London umbrella maker. In recent years Bucklesbury has collaborated with one of Japan’s largest luxury retailers, and also ventured deeper into the Asian market as part of a UK government trade mission to Hong Kong and Shenzen.

Buyers from all over the world are browsing through Bucklesbury’s classic-contemporary items and are falling in love with its ethos for heritage and sustainable progress. But as demand grows, the brand is committed to its conscientious origins and shows a commitment to making every item slower than ever risking inching closer to mass production. It is this attitude that attracts more new customers to this brand, which remains a hidden secret in the global luxury market, which is rife with mass manufacturing by big luxury brands.

Browsing through a selection on the Bucklesbury website will surely whet one’s appetite for more. Discover more umbrellas, handmade Italian bags, handbound journals and beautiful totes exhibiting the quintessential British boardroom style, with a contemporary twist by exploring Bucklesbury’s website and Instagram page @bucklesbury.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jane Wang .