As a necessity of life, you must have seen different types of umbrellas on different occasions. Umbrellas possess additional functionalities beyond basic rain and sun protection.
Whether you are buying personally or selling, you’d better know the basic information including:
Four parts and material of an umbrella
The main components of an umbrella consist of the following four parts. Let me introduce them one by one.
Canopy
The umbrella canopy typically consists of six to eight panels. Each panel has a wedge shape and is sewn together to form the complete one.
This part offers a range of possibilities for personalization and creativity. You can dye it in various colors and patterns, and apply designs using techniques like like digital printing or screen printing.
Umbrella fabrics come in a variety of options, allowing you to choose according to your needs. I will elaborate on this aspect in detail in the next chapter.
Ribs
The umbrella ribs are the framework that supports the umbrella canopy. They are typically made of metal or plastic and have a curved shape.
The ribs connect to the top of the umbrella handle and help to keep the canopy open through tension. They play a crucial role in the stability and functionality of the umbrella.
Shaft
The shaft supports the overall structure of the umbrella. You can use different materials such as fiberglass, wood, steel, or aluminum. Each of these materials has its own advantages.
Fiberglass umbrella shafts are lightweight and sturdy. Some high-end umbrellas, like golf umbrellas, often use these shafts and frames.
Wooden shafts offer a natural texture and aesthetic appeal. However, they are relatively more susceptible to moisture and damage compared to metal shafts.
Compact umbrellas typically use lightweight and foldable aluminum shafts, which are more suitable under normal weather conditions.
Handle
The umbrella handle sits at the top of the umbrella shaft and serves as a gripping point. Common types include a straight handle, C-handle, hook handle, round handle, etc. You can also create fun styles with animal-shaped handles.
Additionally, you can use specially coated materials, soft rubber materials, or textured materials to enhance the comfort and uniqueness of the grip.
Umbrella canopy material
Umbrella canopy materials are crucial as they play a significant role in determining the functionality and performance of the umbrella.
Here I list the 7 most common types, and you can choose the best-suited umbrella material for your business.
Polyester
Polyester umbrellas are famous for their lightweight nature and ability to withstand harsh weather conditions. Additionally, they are easy to clean and maintain. This fabric is commonly found in fashion and folding umbrellas, as it is easily dyed and offers adjustable sizing options.
Nylon
Nylon is known for its durability and waterproof properties, effectively keeping rainwater from seeping through. Umbrellas with nylon canopies also exhibit excellent wind resistance, allowing them to remain stable in stormy weather. The only drawback of this fabric is that it can shrink in high-humidity environments.
Plastic
Plastic umbrellas include materials such as PVC, PE, and POE. These plastic materials offer advantages such as waterproofing and lightweight, making them suitable for everyday use. They are typically easy to clean and maintain and can withstand moderate wind and rain.
However, extreme weather conditions can limit the durability of plastic umbrellas and high-temperature environments can cause them to deform. To enhance performance, some manufacturers apply a Teflon or PTFE coating to the plastic umbrella’s surface, which offers high strength, self-cleaning properties, durability, and fire resistance. This coating can extend the lifespan to approximately 15 years. However, Teflon material comes at a higher cost.
Paper
Paper umbrellas are lightweight, flexible, and decorative. Due to the relative fragility of paper, they are more suitable for use in sunny weather as sunshades or decorative items.
A typical example is the traditional Chinese oil-paper umbrella. This type of paper is treated with oil, giving it a certain degree of waterproofing. People often adorn them with traditional Chinese paintings, calligraphy, or paper-cutting art. The video about oil-paper umbrellas has a total of 4.3B views on Tik Tok.
Pongee
Pongee is a synthetic fabric known for its soft and smooth texture. The fabric has a cotton-like feel to it and is highly durable. Umbrellas made of this fabric are often treated with a black coating, which offers excellent UV protection.
Oxford
Typically, Oxford cloth material with a thickness of 210T is used as the canopy fabric for outdoor sun umbrellas, including beach and patio. It possesses characteristics such as durability, UV protection, water resistance, and wind resistance.
Satin
Satin umbrellas are popular for their fashionable appeal, characterized by their thick, glossy, and shimmering fabric. Chinese umbrellas, in particular, often utilize satin fabrics, which contribute to their exquisite suppleness. However, it is worth noting that satin fabric umbrellas can be challenging to clean.
Three considerations for choosing umbrella types
Functionality
The primary purpose of an umbrella is to provide protection against rain, but it can also offer additional functionalities, including wind resistance, UV protection, etc. You can further select materials only after you have determined the function.
For example, we previously customized umbrellas for clients in New Zealand. The double-layer support structure of the fiberglass umbrella frame and the shaft made of electroplated aluminum was more suitable for use in the windy and unpredictable weather conditions of New Zealand. The umbrella canopy was designed with a curved angle, allowing for even distribution of tension along the edges, greatly enhancing the wind resistance capabilities.
Portability
Portability is crucial, as you want an umbrella that is easy to carry and transport. You need to look for umbrellas that are lightweight and compact when folded and consider the size and weight of the umbrella when fully extended as well.
Compact umbrellas that can fit into a bag or backpack are convenient for everyday use, while larger umbrellas may provide more coverage but may be less portable.
Design Style
Umbrellas come in different styles, ranging from classic to modern, plain to patterned. You can choose a design that reflects your personal taste and complements your overall style and consider the color, pattern, and handle design. Some umbrellas feature ergonomic handles or automatic opening mechanisms for added convenience. Remember that the design should not compromise the functionality and durability of the umbrella.
Common types of umbrellas with pictures
Since there are many kinds of umbrellas, I will divide them into three categories below.
Two main types of umbrellas
Straight Umbrella
A straight umbrella, also known as a classic umbrella or stick umbrella, is one of the most traditional and widely recognized umbrella designs.
It features a straight, rigid shaft that extends from the handle to the canopy without any folding mechanism, making it less portable than a compact umbrella.
Foldable Umbrella
This is a portable umbrella with a foldable design. Its main features are convenience in carrying and storing, making it suitable for everyday use and travel.
There are various folding methods, including three-fold, five-fold, and eight-fold, among which the three-fold design is the most common.
Six functional umbrellas
Golf Umbrella
People primarily use this large umbrella in golfing settings. It features a large canopy and a sturdy structure, providing protection for golfers from rain and sunlight.
Golf umbrellas have also become a common advertising medium for commercial promotions and outdoor events.
Windproof Umbrella
A windproof umbrella is an umbrella with a strong resistance to wind. It is typically made with sturdy materials and a robust structure, such as fiberglass or aluminum alloy, to withstand strong winds.
Some windproof umbrellas have a double-layer canopy structure with a gap of air between the layers, which reduces the impact of wind.
Automatic Umbrella
An automatic umbrella is a convenient, quick, and practical choice for rain protection. It typically utilizes a spring mechanism or a button control mechanism, allowing users to simply press a button or push a switch to automatically open or fold the umbrella canopy.
This design enables users to easily respond to sudden rainfall without the need for manual operation or exerting effort to open the umbrella.
Beach Umbrella
A beach umbrella is a sunshade specifically designed for beach activities. It typically features a large and wide canopy that provides a spacious shaded area, allowing people to shield themselves from the sun and enjoy a cool and leisurely time on the beach.
The color of the canopy is usually in lighter shades, which helps reduce sunlight reflection and heat absorption.
Patio Umbrella
Patio umbrellas are very common in outdoor settings as they provide comfortable and shaded spaces for patios, gardens, and outdoor dining areas. They offer shade, protection, and decorative functions for outdoor activities and leisure time, making them essential decorative and practical tools for outdoor living.
Bridal Umbrella
This is a specially designed umbrella for wedding occasions. They have a beautiful appearance and decoration, providing shade and protection. At the same time, wedding umbrellas also serve as decorative elements in wedding photos and settings, adding a romantic and special atmosphere to the wedding.
Six trendy umbrellas
Hat Umbrella
The hat umbrella is an innovative rain accessory that combines the functions of a hat and an umbrella, providing a convenient solution for rain and sun protection. Its practicality, portability, and comfort have made it a popular choice for many people.
Manufacturers typically make this umbrella using lightweight and waterproof materials such as nylon or polyester fiber. Designers often incorporate an adjustable hat circumference feature, enabling users to customize the size of the hat as needed.
Bubble Umbrella
A bubble umbrella receives the name “domed umbrella” due to its spherical shape. Compared to traditional umbrellas, bubble umbrellas have a larger and more prominent top, often transparent. This design allows bubble umbrellas to provide better protection against rain and offer a larger coverage area for the users.
Children Umbrella
Umbrellas for children are available in many designs and colors. These umbrellas are typically smaller, lightweight, and easy for children to hold and carry. Their canopies often come in bright and fun colors and patterns to attract children’s attention.
Another fun umbrella is the baby stroller umbrella, which provides a comfortable and safe outdoor experience for infants.
Inverted Umbrella
The inverted umbrella features an innovative design with a canopy that is opposite to traditional umbrellas. This design allows rainwater to flow outward when folding the umbrella, preventing users from getting wet when closing it.
Pet Umbrella
Nowadays, many people consider their pets as family members and provide them with a lot of care. This is a specially designed umbrella for the rain protection of pets.
It usually comes with a leash that can be easily fastened to the pet’s back, allowing it to have enough space to walk. The umbrella canopy is typically transparent, thus the pet can see the surrounding environment and reduce anxiety.
Drink / Cocktail Umbrella
Manufacturers typically make drink umbrellas using paper and create them in bright colors with a variety of patterns, such as flowers and fruits. They draw inspiration from the design of traditional sun umbrellas or rain umbrellas but are smaller in size, making those items suitable for placing at the edge of a glass or inside a drink.
Jingsourcing is a leading sourcing company in China, which has helped 4000+ importers wholesale and customize different kinds of products, including umbrellas of various functions and styles. We are very proficient in umbrellas, including materials selection, pattern design, and printing methods.
In addition, we can help you handle all things about importing umbrellas, such as supplier selection, quality control, warehousing, custom clearance, and shipment arrangement.
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