Take cover
Published on May 27, 2012
ANAKIN SKYWALKER LIGHTSABER UMBRELLA. -- PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
ANAKIN SKYWALKER LIGHTSABER UMBRELLA
What: The perfect brolly for Star Wars fans. It has a blue anodised shaft, lightsaber hilt-like handle and silkscreened Jedi Knight emblem. Comes with a carrying sleeve with adjustable shoulder strap. Available in Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi designs too (currently sold out but pre-orders available).
Price: $69.90
Where to buy it: Simply Toys Plaza Singapura, Plaza Singapura, 07-10, 68 Orchard Road, tel: 6884-4401
FOREVER 21 CLEAR SKIES UMBRELLA. -- PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
FOREVER 21 CLEAR SKIES UMBRELLA
What: Catch a glimpse of clear blue skies on a rainy day with the cheery print on the inside of this umbrella.
Price: $17
Where to buy it:
Forever 21 Orchard Xchange, B1-01 to 35,
tel: 6887-3603
SUPER LIGHT FOLDED UMBRELLA. -- PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
SUPER LIGHT FOLDED UMBRELLA
What: These super lightweight umbrellas will take a load off your bag, weighing in at mere 130g. Comes in pink, black, beige, green and navy. Exclusively from Marina Bay Sands Hotel Gift Shop.
Price: $65
Where to buy it: Marina Bay Sands, Hotel Gift Shop, Hotel Lobby Tower Two
LEWIS N CLARK COMPACT UMBRELLA. -- PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
LEWIS N CLARK COMPACT UMBRELLA
What: The answer to the awkward situation of your umbrella flipping inside out. The reinforced steel structure of this automatic umbrella prevents that drenched chicken scenario. If the wind does get the better of it, simply snap it back in place and it is as good as new.
Price: $39.90
Where to buy it: The Planet Traveller, five outlets islandwide including Paragon (290 Orchard Road, 04-15 Paragon, tel: 6732-5172) and Ion Orchard (2 Orchard Turn, 04-19 Ion Orchard)
LEOTERN UMBRELLA L326. -- DESMOND FOO
LEOTERN UMBRELLA L326
What: Not only is this brolly windproof, it also protects against harmful ultraviolet and the heat by blocking out infrared light - all in one petite package weighing about 150g. Comes in yellow, navy, blue, purple, grey, pink, hot pink and red.
Price: $43.90
Where to buy it: Takashimaya Department Store, 391 Orchard Road, Takashimaya Shopping Centre, tel: 6738-1111
GAP LIGHTWEIGHT COLOURBLOCK UMBRELLA. -- PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
GAP LIGHTWEIGHT COLOURBLOCK UMBRELLA
What: This preppy automatic umbrella combines fashion and function, with topstitching on its grip handle. Comes in pink and orange.
Price: $49
Where to buy it: Gap, four outlets islandwide including Wisma Atria (435 Orchard Road, B1-20 to 22 Wisma Atria,
tel: 6732-0438) and VivoCity
(1 HarbourFront Walk, 01-129 VivoCity, tel: 6376-9842)
MUJI TWO-FOLD UMBRELLA. -- PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
MUJI TWO-FOLD UMBRELLA
What: Too much hassle to fold up and stuff your umbrella into its tiny pouch? This nifty brolly can be folded two ways - into a shorter 30cm or a longer 51cm shape - to fit an adjustable sleeve. Comes in navy, grey, brown, black, gingham checks and blackwatch.
Price: $39
Where to buy it: Muji, four outlets islandwide including Paragon (290 Orchard Road, 04-36 to 38 Orchard Paragon, tel: 6735-0123) and Marina Square (6 Raffles Boulevard, 02-326 to 330, tel: 6336-6123)
By Chen Shanshan
Gone are the days of bulky umbrellas that are a pain to lift and bog down your bag.
These days, the humble umbrella has shed a few kilograms.
Compared to five or 10 years ago, umbrellas are getting lighter and lighter, says Ms Sue Wong, in her 40s, director of Angel Accents, which supplies more than 10 brands of umbrellas to department stores.
An average umbrella has been reduced from 160 to 180g previously to as light as 98g now.
In the past, sturdier but heavier stainless steel umbrellas were more popular. The anorexic trend in umbrella, says Ms Wong, started because women 'like to cut down the weight of their bags' and viewed hefty parasols as too much of a drag.
With the increasingly capricious weather toggling between scorching hot and stormy with strong winds, the umbrella is an essential item when you leave the house.
For a multi-tasker, opt for anti-UV umbrellas, which serve to shield you from both rain and the harsh, complexion-busting sun. Ms Wong says that these umbrellas, coated with a silver or aluminium coating to block harmful ultraviolet rays that can cause skin damage, are her best-selling products. She sells 800 to 2,000 pieces a month, 'depending on the weather'.
Ultra lightweight models, weighing less than 100g, are also popular; as are sturdier windproof umbrellas, which have a reinforced high-density fibreglass skeleton to prevent them from flipping inside out. The design of the umbrella is also more rounded so that the wind slides off easily without threatening to overturn the umbrella.
She says: 'Local customers are all very practical. They want to squeeze all the useful functions into one product, but of course, the retail price reflects the function.'
Ms Sharon Kong, whose company Rainforest Design supplies umbrellas to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel Gift Shop, says: 'In the last two or three years, Singapore seems to be getting wetter, so umbrella sales have really caught on quite phenomenally. People are willing to pay for quality umbrellas.'
The director and co-owner of the company, who is in her 50s, also plans to bring in men's umbrellas next year. Compared to umbrellas targeted at women, they are sturdier and usually in darker shades and have an automatic mechanism.
SundayLife! checks out seven umbrellas with which to arm yourself against the elements.