Folding umbrellas

	Model CY3060 from mainland China's Future features a UV-protective pongee cover. The three-fold model has an automatic mechanism for opening and closing.

Suppliers of mini umbrellas in mainland China and Taiwan are enhancing the durability of designs while also making them more attractive.

Companies are using better materials and improving product construction. New models have polyester pongee and nylon covers, which are treated with silicone for increased resistance against moisture and UV rays.

To ensure that the umbrellas will not invert even in strong winds, suppliers are launching models with covers that feature double canopies. The opening between the two tiers allows air to pass through, reducing the risk of the cover turning inside out. Alternatively, covers may feature vented holes on the edges for a similar effect.

Aside from these steps, suppliers are making umbrella covers more colorful. Some models may feature panels with alternating hues, while others have art-inspired designs, graphic or animal-skin prints, or cartoon motifs. Covers in T/C feature embroidery and ruffled edges.

Many suppliers are now using fiberglass for the ribs, although aluminum and steel are still widely employed. Fiberglass is lightweight and said not to break easily, even in aggressive weather conditions.

Handles come in wood, plastic, EVA and rubber, and are molded for an easier grip.

Whether manual or automatic, mini umbrellas undergo rigorous inspection. For each finished batch, a sample is selected at random. This will be opened and closed more than 100 times to check whether the telescopic handles are fixed securely and, for automatic models, that the mechanism is hardwearing. Other tests are done by SGS, Intertek and JISC.

In addition, companies are bundling mini umbrellas with fabric pouches or rigid cases in matching designs. For a more luxurious effect, these are embellished with glass beads or feature buyers' logos in metallic gold and silver.

Suppliers are adding value to their products as they aim to penetrate the high-end market. This comes amid rising manufacturing costs that are pushing up prices.

Due to challenges in sourcing, companies are purchasing materials in bulk to save costs. The extra components are kept in warehouses, making it convenient for suppliers to process buyers' orders quicker.

Among the mainland suppliers interviewed for this report, Fine Ocean Corp. Ltd uses polyester pongee for the cover, and EVA for the handle. Ribs are made of aluminum.

Fine Ocean sources materials in bulk from the provinces of Fujian, Guangdong and Zhejiang. The company's 15,000sqm factory has warehouses for storing extra components.

At Future Umbrella Co. Ltd, models come with vented covers, which are made of polyester pongee and nylon. Fiberglassand aluminum are adopted for the ribs.

Most materials are purchased in Taiwan, although the company sources some from Hong Kong.

An ISO 9001:2000-certified supplier, Future exports mainly to Europe. L'Oreal and Pepsi are among its major clients.

Mini umbrellas from Zhejiang Yisheng Arts & Crafts Co. Ltd carry the CE mark. Products have iron or aluminum shafts, and molded plastic handles. Polyester and nylon covers feature floral prints or embroidered patterns.

Models from Feng Hua Umbrella Co. Ltd have plaid or polka-dot prints, and ruffled edges. The covers come in polyester pongee, while the ribs are in aluminum.

The company uses 4-color offset and silk-screen printing machines at its 11,000sqm factory, turning out 300,000 pieces monthly.

Top Umbrella Co. Ltd is developing mini umbrellas with double canopies made of polyester pongee and nylon. Models have ABS or PP handles, and aluminum ribs.

In Taiwan, Full Phong Enterprise Co. Ltd uses 190t nylon for the covers. EVA handles are covered with rubber for a nonslip grip.

Products are tested against the JIS requirements of Japan, the company's main export market.

Focusing on functionality, Corina (Taiwan) Co. Ltd has launched mini umbrellas that have flashlights mounted on the handles. It also offers models that, when folded, are only 6 inches long.

Products have 180t polyester pongee covers, and wood, steel, aluminum, fiberglass or carbon fiber ribs.

At Shinin Silica Corp., UV-resistant nylon and polyester pongee models are impregnated with silicone.

Mini umbrellas from Yamaiji Umbrella Mfg Co. Ltd are tested by SGS and JISC. Models have printed polyester or embroidered T/C covers. The company's latest designs feature art masterpieces, landscapes and photographs on the covers.

Yamaiji exports to OEM and ODM clients in Europe, the US and Japan. Yves Saint Laurent, Anna Sui and Burberry are among the major customers.