The kind of umbrella you don't want to let go of. ZUTTO's sun and rain umbrellas, designed to be beautiful whether open or closed.

Do you have an umbrella you've used with affection for years? Having handled all sorts of things, we've come to feel that among the items we use "just because," some grow into things we cherish over time, while others don't. A gift from someone else is a prime example of the former. But beyond that, we think that with items you can care about even when you're not using them, maintenance itself becomes enjoyable, affection naturally follows, and the desire to treat something with care arises on its own.

For the umbrellas we're introducing this time, we started with the premise that the silhouette should look beautiful when open, but we also paid close attention to making sure it stays beautiful when folded closed.

An umbrella that's not just beautiful in silhouette when opened, but also neat and elegant when closed. A lovely umbrella that catches the eye of passersby. An umbrella that carries an air of refinement even while standing by in an umbrella stand.

This is the spirit behind ZUTTO's original rain and sun umbrellas. We named them "a rain umbrella with a beautiful form, made together with an umbrella craftsman" and "a sun umbrella that's beautiful even closed, made for enjoying the sunlight."

Table of Contents――――――――――――――――――――

・Why do ZUTTO's long umbrellas last so long?

・Comparing ZUTTO's sun umbrellas and rain umbrellas

・The more you learn about how these umbrellas are made, the more attached you'll become

・Care and how to use them

・About repairs if something breaks

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Why do ZUTTO's long umbrellas last so long?

The most important thing for long-term use is that you never grow tired of it. Regardless of passing trends, we made these umbrellas by valuing the basics, aiming for a silhouette that will look beautiful in any era. An umbrella that makes you look forward to opening it becomes a true companion for going out. And if it ever breaks after years of use, you can rest easy knowing repairs are possible.

A sun umbrella that's beautiful even closed, made for enjoying the sunlight - Linen Khaki

A rain umbrella with a beautiful form, made together with an umbrella craftsman - Lavender

■A rain umbrella with a beautiful form, made together with an umbrella craftsman

When open, the size is the standard dimension that's easy for women to use, with a rib length of a typical 58cm. To ensure a beautiful appearance when opened, we've balanced the beautifully curving lines with the length of the handle and ferrule, and the colors of the fabric, parts, and materials, so that each element complements the others. When closed, it appears slim and elegant, giving this long umbrella a somewhat delicate impression.

A rain umbrella with a beautiful form, made together with an umbrella craftsman - Orange

■A sun umbrella that's beautiful even closed, made for enjoying the sunlight

Since a sun umbrella is often carried closed while walking, we paid special attention to its shape when folded shut. It's made a size smaller than the rain umbrella, so it looks neat and tidy when carried closed. When open, its rib length of 47cm provides ample shade while remaining an easy-to-use standard size. We chose fabrics made of linen and cotton, materials that offer coolness while developing a pleasing texture with continued use.

A sun umbrella that's beautiful even closed, made for enjoying the sunlight - Linen Khaki

Comparing ZUTTO's sun umbrellas and rain umbrellas

Right: sun umbrella, Left: rain umbrella

These long umbrellas were made by pursuing the ideal length for both sun and rain use, and when placed side by side, you can see the difference. The rain umbrella is designed to look slim and smart, while the sun umbrella is made shorter so it's easy to carry when closed while walking. Though the lengths differ, the handles have a unified look, which is a nice touch when the two are lined up together in an umbrella stand.

Right: sun umbrella, Left: rain umbrella

There's also a difference in the ribs. The rain umbrella uses a material that gives peace of mind even when wet, while the sun umbrella has ribs made of a gentle-looking wood-grain material. Both use handles made of white birch rattan, giving them a warm, calming finish that pairs well even with traditional Japanese clothing.

Both umbrellas also feature fabric wrapping on the runner cap below the ferrule and on the lower runner and upper notch, the parts that slide up and down during opening and closing. This makes the umbrella gentle to the touch when opening and closing, and eliminates the sensation of your fingers getting pinched, which can often happen when closing an umbrella, ensuring a smooth motion.

Enjoy the combinations, too

ZUTTO's sun and rain umbrellas come in a rich variety of colors that can be hard to find elsewhere, so we recommend having fun with color combinations. If you're not sure where to start, how about trying one of these pairings?

Orange × Linen Dungaree

A rain umbrella with a beautiful form, made together with an umbrella craftsman - Orange

A sun umbrella that's beautiful even closed, made for enjoying the sunlight - Linen Dungaree

Navy × Linen Rose

A rain umbrella with a beautiful form, made together with an umbrella craftsman - Navy

A sun umbrella that's beautiful even closed, made for enjoying the sunlight - Linen Rose

Sky × Linen Khaki

A rain umbrella with a beautiful form, made together with an umbrella craftsman - Sky

A sun umbrella that's beautiful even closed, made for enjoying the sunlight - Linen Khaki

How umbrellas are made: the more you know, the more you'll love them

These umbrellas, filled with careful craftsmanship, are made entirely by hand—from cutting the fabric to attaching every single part. They are made by a workshop of umbrella craftsmen founded in 1973 that specializes in made-to-order umbrellas. The workshop produces custom umbrellas for many apparel brands, and continues making umbrellas with the hope that they can become a more familiar and enjoyable part of everyday life. The process can be broadly divided into the following seven steps.

◆Inspecting and cutting the fabric
It would be a real problem if the fabric used for an umbrella had a hole in it. To prevent this, the fabric goes through a process called "kentan" (fabric inspection). The fabric is spread out and light is shone through it from behind to check for unevenness or flaws. Once it's confirmed there are no problems, the fabric is carefully cut to the size of the umbrella.

◆Edge finishing
Once the fabric is cut, the edges are first finished with a "mitsumaki" (triple-fold hem) using a special sewing machine. Sewing such a fine, narrow line requires real skill, and it's this fine stitching that gives the umbrella its clean, refined look. If you look closely at the edge of the umbrella, you'll be amazed at just how finely and meticulously it's been sewn. Please take a moment to look closely when your umbrella arrives.

◆Triangular cutting
Next, the fabric is cut according to a triangular wooden frame matched to the umbrella's 8 ribs.

This is the wooden frame used to determine the fabric size for the umbrella. The workshop is lined with rows of wooden frames from the many umbrellas made over the years. Watching the fabric being briskly cut to match these frames is truly a display of craftsmanship. Each step of the process is carried out with care and devotion.

◆Inspecting the panels
"Koma" refers to the pieces of cut fabric. These pieces, which will actually be used on the umbrella, are inspected once more to check for any flaws or holes.

◆Middle stitching
Once the inspection confirms there are no issues, the panels are sewn together using a special sewing machine. It's said that aligning the tips of the triangles precisely before stitching results in a beautifully finished piece.

You can see how finely and carefully the seams are sewn.

◆Middle binding
From here, the fabric is attached to the umbrella ribs—again, entirely by hand. By carefully fitting the fabric to the frame piece by piece, the craftsman adjusts the balance and shapes it into a beautiful umbrella.

↑※Please note that this particular umbrella is not one we carry.

◆Attaching the handle
Finally, the handle is attached to the umbrella, and it's complete.

Umbrellas made carefully, one by one, through this process have a finish that conveys the warmth of handwork. If you look closely at the details of an umbrella made with such loving care, you can almost picture the handwork that went into it. Rather than a mass-produced umbrella of the kind you often see around town, an umbrella like this—made by hand—might just help you rediscover the feeling of cherishing the things you own.

Care and Usage

There are a few points to keep in mind so that you can enjoy your carefully made ZUTTO long umbrella for years to come.

When your umbrella arrives, the first thing to do is remove the plastic wrap from the handle. If you're used to leaving it on, it might feel a little unusual to take off, but please be aware that leaving the plastic on can actually let water get inside, which may cause the handle to corrode. Once you remove the plastic, you can enjoy the natural feel of the plain rattan material and watch it change beautifully over time.

Rain umbrellas are given a special waterproof treatment and meet the waterproofing standards required for use as rain umbrellas. We do not recommend using commercial waterproof sprays or stain removers, as depending on their compatibility with the fabric, they may cause staining. Also, please avoid using the umbrella in extremely heavy rain or strong winds, and use a raincoat instead when going out in such conditions.

■When opening the umbrella

Umbrellas need a little warm-up too. Hold the handle and gently shake it two or three times to fully loosen the fabric before opening it—this helps ensure smooth, worry-free use.

■When closing the umbrella

It's tempting to give a wet umbrella a good hard shake, but doing so puts a lot of strain on the ribs, runner, and fabric. Please shake off water gently.

■When carrying the umbrella

Striking the ground hard with the ferrule can cause damage. When carrying the umbrella, we recommend holding it so the tip doesn't touch the ground.

■After use

Leaving the umbrella wet can lead to various problems, such as discoloration of the fabric, leaking, mold, wear, and rust on the ribs. Let it dry completely in a shaded area, then store it somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight. We recommend keeping it upright in an umbrella stand.

About Repairs If Something Breaks

No matter how carefully you handle your favorite umbrella, the more you use it, the more likely it is that it will eventually need some care or repair. ZUTTO's parasols and rain umbrellas come with thorough after-sales support, so that you can continue to enjoy an umbrella you've grown attached to for a long time, even if issues or damage arise through use. If you experience a problem—whether it's a broken rib, a part that needs replacing, a torn seam, or fabric that needs re-covering—please feel free to contact our customer support team.