Umbrella - your best friend in bad weather

The first umbrellas were used as early as four thousand years ago by the ancient Egyptians. However, China is considered to be the home of this popular accessory - it was there, around 400 AD, that umbrellas began to be made from... paper soaked in grease. At the beginning of the 18th century, Chinese umbrellas appeared in England and France, while in 1715, the French patented the first umbrella in a folding version. Since then, we don't have to give up going out when it's plentiful outside the window and can enjoy long walks whatever the weather.

An umbrella has more than one name... Among the models available on the market, you will find automatic ones and those folded manually, smaller and larger, minimalist and decorated - to choose from.

Manual, automatic or semi-automatic?

Umbrellas are mainly divided by the way they open and close. The most convenient are the fully automatic ones, which open and close at the push of a button. Semi-automatic umbrellas, which unfold with the push of a button, are also popular - but have to be folded by hand. The simplest manual models are also available, requiring you to unfold and fold them yourself. Automatic and semi-automatic umbrellas are undoubtedly the most convenient choice - but it must be said that they are much more prone to damage than the manual versions.

Folding mini umbrellas

A popular type of umbrella is folding mini umbrellas, designed for people who are not keen on carrying large, bulky models. The small umbrellas fit into most bags or backpacks, and with a cord or elastic band at the handle, you can hang them on your wrist when your hands are busy. You will also find these convenient little umbrellas in our range.

Decorative umbrellas ideal for ladies

An umbrella says a lot about its wearer - the more colourful and patterned it is, the more colourful the owner's personality. Among modern umbrellas today, you can find dozens of interesting models that not only protect from the rain but also add character to the styling. By choosing an umbrella with peas, daisies or another pattern, you can perfectly emphasise your current mood and your outfit itself. In the FormAdore assortment, you will find both elegant, minimalist proposals as well as models in pepitas, stripes, floral prints or those with neon edges. A colourful umbrella with a cat or dog image from the Doppler collection is a particularly impressive proposal.

Classic models for men

The first English umbrellas designed for men were characterised by rather rich ornamentation - including gold and silver details, compasses, fountain pens and even watches. Their handles, on the other hand, were made of costly materials such as ivory or buffalo horn. Over the years, however, fashion has changed somewhat - today gentlemen prefer rather classic black umbrellas without decorative details. This is elegance in itself - minimalism is often the best option.

8, 10 or maybe 16 ribs?

Umbrellas are also divided by the number of ribs, commonly referred to as wires. The most popular models are those with eight, ten or sixteen ribs. It is the former that we are most likely to encounter - especially if we are talking about compact models that fit into a rucksack or bag. The more wires a given umbrella has, the greater its durability - so in more difficult weather conditions, when rain is combined with strong wind, an umbrella with sixteen ribs will be a better choice.

Beach umbrellas - a must-have on hot days

Umbrellas are used to protect not only from rain but also from the sun's rays. Beach umbrellas are an excellent example of this and are indispensable in summer. They provide pleasant shade and, if they have an interesting pattern or an unusual colour scheme, they make it easier to find one's place, e.g. after getting out of the water. In terms of design, they do not differ from classic rain umbrellas - except for the size, which is considerably larger in this case. The beach version of the umbrella can easily be driven into the sand or ground.


Garden umbrellas - pleasant shade in the home tropics

Garden umbrellas, which are much larger than the beach version, are equally popular. They can be up to 5 metres in diameter - so they can cover a large set of garden furniture, providing everyone with a dreamy piece of shade. However, these types of models require special bases. When choosing a base for your patio umbrella, it's worth paying special attention to the material it's made of, as plastic can quickly crack. Stone bases are a recommended solution - they are extremely solid and at the same time much more elegant. There is also a choice of durable granite or concrete bases. In terms of ease of use, garden umbrellas with a hinged construction at the top of the tube are popular. These types of models can be positioned in many different ways, adapting their position to the angle of the sun. If you are looking for a sturdy yet stylish solution for your garden, you will find many interesting models that will last for years.

In order for an umbrella to serve us for a long time, it is worth taking proper care of it - and we are talking about both the garden model and the classic rain umbrella. If the material gets dirty, e.g. through mud, it is worth wiping it lightly with a damp cloth and a mild detergent. In the case of garden umbrellas, it is often also acceptable to wash the fabric in the washing machine - but it is best to clean it with a brush and soapy water or a special umbrella cleaner and then rinse it off, for example with a garden hose. And how do you store your umbrellas? Special stands have been developed for this purpose, which not only keep the umbrellas in one place and provide easy access to them but also protect the floor from getting dirty when you come home with a wet umbrella. The umbrella stands can be easily matched to the interior - so they are both a practical accessory and a decorative element in the hallway. Visit our category with umbrella stands.

There are many surprising trivia associated with umbrellas - both in terms of how they are used and how their durability is tested. Check if you already know them!
- For the Egyptian pharaohs umbrellas were created from the feathers of birds and palm leaves - they were supposed to protect from the sun.
- Until the end of the 19th century women in England treated umbrellas as a decorative accessory - when the need for shelter from the rain came, they asked their men to open an umbrella.
- In the old days, leaning on a closed umbrella was held by the tip while the handle touched the ground - quite the opposite of today.
- The strength of umbrellas is tested by winds blowing at 120 km/h.

The umbrella is not only a practical accessory for protection against the rain but also a motif that is often used in art, such as painting. Paintings such as ' Woman with an Umbrella' by the famous Claude Monet, 'Umbrellas' by the French impressionist Auguste Renoir and ' Umbrellas' by the Spanish painter Francisco Goya are ideal examples. Umbrellas also appear in literature - for example in Józef Ratajczak's poem entitled ' Parasol' or 'Man with a golden umbrella' by Danuta Wawiłow.