An umbrella as part of "adult refinement." Get yourself a British umbrella from FOX UMBRELLAS that will become your new standard.

You may be dressed impeccably in a suit or office attire, yet still find an inexpensive plastic umbrella easy and convenient. If it breaks quickly or gets lost, it hardly matters—somehow we end up treating umbrellas as disposable items. Isn't that the case for many people? Consuming mass-produced goods and letting them go without attachment may be convenient, but it also leaves us with a faint sense of sadness, even guilt. The FOX UMBRELLAS umbrella we're introducing today might feel like a bit of a stretch for those who have only ever used plastic umbrellas, but we hope you'll come to know its origins, its appearance, and the impression it leaves on others.

Men's Long Umbrella Wood Grain/Navy

An umbrella like a walking stick—furled more crisply than any other

The word "umbrella" is said to derive from the Latin "umbra," meaning shadow, and its origins trace back to the parasol. As time passed, rain umbrellas actually became popular in England, mainly among women. Even English gentlemen, who once held to the policy that "umbrellas are for women," came to need them as the modern era progressed, and smart, walking-stick-like umbrellas gained popularity. The umbrella we're introducing today is exactly that kind of piece—a FOX UMBRELLAS model with a slim furl, sleek and smart in appearance, just like a walking stick.

A slender umbrella that only Fox can make

Women's long umbrellas come with a tassel

FOX UMBRELLAS umbrellas feature a slim, elegant handle atop a beautifully cinched, crisply furled canopy. The silhouette when open is important, of course, but so is the appearance when closed on a day without rain. In England, before the war, there were even specialized tradespeople devoted to furling umbrellas beautifully—that's how highly the art of the furled umbrella was regarded. An elegant umbrella like this, one that seems to straighten your posture just by holding it, is well worth owning.

Men's Long Umbrella Wood Grain/Black

Smooth fabric and the beauty of eight ribs

FOX UMBRELLAS is also known as the brand that first adopted synthetic fiber for umbrellas. Its fabric has evolved from leftover parachute nylon to polyester, yet the handiwork of skilled craftsmen remains unchanged, still producing umbrellas with a finely textured, lustrous fabric.

Women's All-Weather Long Umbrella with One-Piece Handle, BORDO

The brand uses eight ribs, which offer the best balance in terms of elegance, beauty, and weight when open, while still allowing the umbrella to be furled extremely thin without sacrificing the strength required. The beautiful curve of the ribs revealed when the umbrella opens comes from a U-shaped steel frame that FOX UMBRELLAS itself devised—a structure that has since become the global standard. The balance of this curved surface is a meticulously calculated design, gently receiving the falling rain and guiding water droplets outward, away from the umbrella.

Women's Long Umbrella, Malacca/Lilac

What is FOX UMBRELLAS, a name inseparable from the history of the modern umbrella?

As mentioned earlier, the umbrella's origins lie in the parasol. In Egypt around 1000 BC, rulers demonstrated their authority by having attendants hold what we would today call a canopy—essentially a parasol by modern comparison. Later, when the culture of the umbrella made its way to Europe, it continued to be known as a "symbol of wealth."

The man who transformed this once-noble object into the practical rain gear we know today was Jonas Hanway, an English philosopher and traveler. In the mid-18th century, he devised a "rain umbrella" treated with oil to repel water, and though he walked the streets of London carrying it, society at the time regarded him as an eccentric and mocked him behind his back.

FOX UMBRELLAS can be called the very originator that had a great influence on the spread of the rain umbrella. It created the foundation of the umbrella's modern structure and has continued to protect that legacy ever since. The brand's story began in the latter half of the 19th century, when FOX UMBRELLAS was founded in London by Thomas Fox. At a time when whalebone was the standard material for umbrella frames, the brand adopted metal instead, devised the U-shaped cross-section rib structure still used today, and became the first in the world to develop a nylon-fabric umbrella—continually rewriting the history of umbrellas as a dedicated specialist brand.

Since its founding, the brand has remained committed to finishing every step of the process by the hands of skilled craftsmen, and it continues to captivate people around the world as the last maker of handmade British umbrellas. This traditional craftsmanship has been passed down to the present day, carried out entirely by hand at the head office factory on the outskirts of London—from cutting fabric using wooden molds, to sewing with machines, to assembling the metal frames, to shaping handles made from various natural materials.

FOX UMBRELLAS' long umbrellas are slimmer and crisper in their furl than any other. From classic models built with sturdy shafts crafted by walking-stick makers, to women's umbrellas of an elegance you won't find anywhere else, each piece condenses the tradition of the British umbrella into a single, exceptional object.

Find a graceful, beautifully refined umbrella of your own

The FOX UMBRELLAS umbrellas we're introducing this time come in both men's and women's styles, making them perfect as gifts. Umbrellas are considered auspicious because their shape "spreads out toward the end" (suehirogari), symbolizing growing prosperity, which also makes them ideal for celebratory occasions. They're a wonderful choice for many occasions—celebrating a milestone for your parents, a friend or partner's wedding or promotion, or a birthday.

An umbrella with a dignified, elegant presence: Women's Long Umbrella with One-Gee Handle

From left: BORDO/FRENCH NAVY/ARA BLUE/CAMEL

Compared to the men's type, the women's long umbrella has a slimmer, more delicate handle. Even so, it opens to a size of about 99cm and measures about 86cm when closed, making it a standard size for a women's umbrella.

The glossy fabric texture is beautiful and elegant. Compared to the Malacca series, the One-Gee Handle series has more pronounced, sinewy ribs, and the beautiful curve created when opened helps water run off.

The fluttering tassel sways charmingly. FOX UMBRELLAS umbrellas have an elegant presence unlike any other, but even so, a charm like this tassel comes in handy when trying to pick out your own umbrella from among many others in an umbrella stand.

▲Women's All-Weather Long Umbrella with One-Gee Handle, BORDO

▲Women's All-Weather Long Umbrella with One-Gee Handle, CAMEL

As reliable as a long umbrella, yet conveniently foldable: the One-Gee Handle folding umbrella

From left: GREEN/BLACK/NAVY/GREY

We also carry a folding umbrella with the One-Gee Handle. Unusually for a folding umbrella, its ribs, which stretch the fabric, are longer than those of a typical folding umbrella, and with 8 ribs the fabric area is larger. In terms of size, you can use it much like a long umbrella.

With most folding umbrellas, the rule is to keep the handle compact, and many are designed to fit neatly into the palm of your hand. However, if it's too small, you can't hold it firmly in strong winds, and it wobbles unsteadily in your grip. This "Women's Folding Umbrella with One-Gee Handle," while still a folding umbrella, has a solidly built handle. Ease of grip has been carefully considered in its design.

It's not exactly an ultra-compact folding umbrella, but it strikes a balance between the reassuring, substantial feel of a long umbrella and the convenience of being easy to carry.

Men's Long Umbrella, Wood Grain: A chic color palette that sharpens up any suit

From left: Black/Navy/Brown

The men's long umbrella features a thicker Malacca wood handle paired with a slim, plain design lineup. It opens to a size of 108cm and measures 93cm when closed. With its standard, versatile size, it's comfortable to hold regardless of age, and you can use it with confidence even on long walks in the rain.

The men's umbrella comes with a ring that can be slid up and down to gather the fabric at the tip.

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