I can no longer live without this handy umbrella
21.5.2024
Translation: Jessica Johnson-Ferguson
The One-Pull umbrella by Japanese brand Shupatto is as beautiful as it is clever. Its practical closing mechanism won me over.
When the sky weeps, I weep too. Especially when I have to squeeze into a tram next to dozens of other people and somehow close my umbrella at the same time. While collapsing the canopy at the touch of a button or with the sliding mechanism is quickly done, tightening the tie wrapper around it is often a trickier task. Your hands – provided they’re free – get wet and the raindrops soon find their way onto your clothes, or worse: those of the people around me.
The designers at Shupatto probably came up with the idea for the One-Pull with this scenario in mind.
As the name suggests, all it takes is one pull for the umbrella to collapse and neatly fall into place. As the shaft starts to rotate during the last few centimetres, the fabric rolls up in a spiral motion by itself. This means there’s neither a tie wrap nor an additional step required. My hands stay dry and my nerves calm.
Source: Stephanie Vinzens
Source: Stephanie Vinzens
Shupatto is a brand of Japanese company Marna. They sell household products designed to make everyday life easier. Shupatto specialises in foldable shopping bags. Marna even won the Red Dot Design Award in 2016 and the iF Product Design Award in 2017 for its One-Pull bags, which can be folded up in no time thanks to its pleats.
Sturdy finish, beautiful design
I’ve been using the umbrella version of the shopping bags regularly for three months now – and I’m not giving it back. The closing function really has turned out to be very handy in day-to-day life.
Since it’s been in use, I haven’t been caught in a storm (phew), so I can only guess if the umbrella’s sturdy. In any case, the stretchers and ribs look extremely stable to me. The type that would be able to withstand strong gusts of wind. What’s more, the umbrella also opens and closes smoothly, and I’m glad it has a slider instead of a button. Umbrellas that violently jump open at the push of a button freak me out.
Source: Stephanie Vinzens
Source: Stephanie Vinzens
The product seems to be well thought out from A to Z. A stopper allows the water-repellent polyester canopy to dry in a semi-open position. Aesthetically, I’m also happy with the One-Pull umbrella. The design with its light-grey handle is minimalist and stylish, and the available colours are pretty. In addition to the nude model I have, it’s also available in lemon yellow, medium blue and light beige.
An additional size option would be great
In my opinion, the only disadvantage is that it’s not a pocket umbrella. I usually leave the house without taking any precautions, even if there’s a chance of rain. And on days when I am wise enough to prepare, I tend to go for a pocket umbrella I can stow away in my bag. So if a pocket version of the Shupatto umbrella should be launched at some point, it would be the perfect product for me.
Source: Sudjai Vinzens
The umbrella’s currently available in two sizes. The smaller version featured in this article still has a very generous diameter of 100 centimetres. The one with a 112-centimetre diameter has a black handle and is only available in black, dark blue, khaki and greige. I think the smaller one is more than enough.
Check out all available models here.
In a nutshell
No complaints, just one small request
Sure, the special locking mechanism is just a detail, but it does make the umbrella easier to handle in public spaces. If there were a pocket version available, I’d be in heaven.
Pro
- sturdy, high-quality look and feel
- beautiful, minimalist design
- unique, handy closing function
Contra
- too big to be stowed in a handbag
Header image: Stephanie Vinzens
Has endless love for shoulder pads, Stratocasters and sashimi, but a limited tolerance for bad impressions of her Eastern Swiss dialect.
Fashion
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