Total Merchandise is now closed for Easter. Our team will be back to assist you again from 8.30am on Tuesday 2nd April.

Fun Facts for A Rainy Day: All About Promotional Umbrellas

On a rainy day, you'll find promotional umbrellas are the most desired printed merchandise! Umbrellas are used by nearly everyone... by men, women, the old and the young, so if you're considering branding something with your company logo, the umbrella is defiantly something to keep in mind.

Have umbrellas always been this popular? Umbrellas have always seemed to be a new invention, but in fact the basic umbrella was invented over four thousand years ago. The very first umbrella were not designed to stop someone from getting wet, they were actually designed to provide shade from the sun (so quite the opposite to our modern umbrellas).

The first waterproof umbrella was created by the Chinese, where they waxed and lacquered their paper umbrellas in order to use them in the rain. It makes sense really that umbrellas were first used as protection from the sun as the word 'umbrella' itself comes from the Latin root word 'umbra', meaning shade or shadow. Umbrellas for men? At first umbrellas were just considered to be a suitable accessory for women, much like a handbag or purse.

It wasn't until the traveller and writer Jonas Hanway started to carry an umbrella publicly in England that umbrella became popular among men too. However, men being men, to keep their umbrellas a bit more manly they used to refer to their umbrellas as 'Hanways' instead. What where early umbrellas made out of? Early European umbrellas were made out of wood or whalebone and covered with alpaca or oiled canvas.

Materials used to manufacture umbrellas have, of course, improved through the years. Now-a-days umbrellas are made out of all kinds of materials such as wood, metal, recycled PET bottles and recycled steel, and make the perfect platform to advertise on.

However one of the most important umbrella innovations came in the early 1850s. When Samuel Fox had the idea of using 'U' shaped steel rods for the ribs and stretchers to make a light, strong frame. With a lot of development through the years you can now get promotional umbrellas in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The one you choose for your promotional campaign is up to you... but which ever one you choose you can be sure it will be see a lot in this weather.

To see a wide range of promotional umbrellas and other printed merchandise have a look through our NEW website!

Written by

Total Merchandise | Editoral Team

Our editorial team is drawn from a pool of experienced promotional merchandise product team members, account managers, marketers and other contributors. With such a wide range of skills and experience, they write about many aspects of promotional merchandise, wider marketing and business matters, as well as company news updates.

Connect with Total Merchandise on LinkedIn Connect with Total Merchandise on LinkedIn

Total Merchandise
Egg-Cellent Printed Easter Gifts That Every-Bunny Will Love

Egg-Cellent Printed Easter Gifts That Every-Bunny Will Love

Easter is just on the horizon and if you're considering the seasonal treats you would like to gift your customers or colleagues, you've come to the right place because o

Just In: The Promotional Merchandise That Will Be Trending In 2022

Just In: The Promotional Merchandise That Will Be Trending In 2022

For 2022, we predict the promotional merchandise that will be trending is UK-made products. Why? Read on to find out... READ MORE:

How To Keep Your Promotional Merchandise On Trend In 2019

How To Keep Your Promotional Merchandise On Trend In 2019

Every business strives to remain current and promotional merchandise is no different. Consumer trends are constantly changing, 2018 saw the rise of the fidget spinner, b

The Best Promotional Football Products To Kick-Off Euro 2024

The Best Promotional Football Products To Kick-Off Euro 2024

Want to get your business involved in Euro 2024? For the uninitiated, UEFA's iconic international football tournament will kick-off in June 2024 and be watched by mi

The 10 Best Branded Pet Products For National Pet Month

The 10 Best Branded Pet Products For National Pet Month

April is officially National Pet Month - so what better time to shine a light on our amazing array of pooch-approved promotional products? From walkies-friendly water bo

In Honour of World Book Day: 5 Page-Turner Promotional Products

In Honour of World Book Day: 5 Page-Turner Promotional Products

Hey: let's talk about you for a moment. You and reading, to be precise. Are you a fiction fan or a biography lover? A self-help buff or a sci-fi enthusiast? A