We spend a lot of time thinking about umbrellas, more than most people probably do, and one thing that's struck us over the years is how differently the rest of the world treats the humble brolly compared to how we do here. In Britain it's mostly a grudging necessity, something you grab on the way out the door and mutter about. Elsewhere, it's fashion, tradition, status and sometimes even art. Here's a look at how a few other countries do things differently.
Japan: The Wagasa And A Genuine Sense Of Occasion
Japan has one of the longest and most refined relationships with the umbrella anywhere in the world. The traditional wagasa, made from bamboo ribs and oiled washi paper, has been used for centuries and still turns up at tea ceremonies, weddings and traditional theatre. Modern Japan hasn't lost that thoughtfulness either, a clear umbrella (known locally as biniigasa) is the go-to for rainy commutes, chosen specifically so pedestrians can see where they're going in crowded streets, which is honestly not a bad idea for anywhere with busy pavements. It's the same logic behind why a clear umbrella has become such a popular pick over here too, for city commutes as much as wedding photos, nobody wants to vanish under a canopy when they actually need to see where they're going.
China: Where The Umbrella Was Basically Invented
Umbrellas are generally believed to have originated in China around two and a half thousand years ago, initially as a symbol of status for royalty and nobility rather than a practical rain solution for everyone else. Oil-paper umbrellas, painted with intricate designs, are still handmade in some regions today and treated as genuine craft objects rather than disposable rain gear, a world away from the folding umbrella left behind on a train. This is also where the pagoda shape comes from, that distinctive tiered, curved canopy borrowed from East Asian temple roofs. It made its way into Western umbrella design decades ago and never really left, a pagoda umbrella is still one of the most requested shapes for brides looking for something a bit more elegant than a standard dome.
The Pagoda Shape: Temple Architecture Meets The High Street
It's worth pausing on the pagoda specifically because it's one of those design details most people never question. The tiered, slightly flared edge on a pagoda umbrella isn't decorative fashion, it's a direct nod to pagoda rooflines found across China, Japan and much of Southeast Asia, where the upturned tiers were originally designed to help shed rainwater. That bit of architectural thinking translates rather beautifully onto an umbrella canopy, and it's exactly why a pagoda style has stuck around as a genuine classic rather than a passing trend, particularly for wedding umbrellas where the shape photographs so well against a bridal gown.
West Africa: The Umbrella As A Symbol Of Power
In parts of Ghana and Nigeria, large ceremonial umbrellas have long been used to shelter chiefs and important figures during public events, not for rain protection at all but as a visual marker of status and authority. These umbrellas are often elaborately decorated and carried by attendants, turning what we'd think of as a purely practical object into something closer to a crown.
Thailand: A Village Built Around The Umbrella
Bo Sang, a small town in northern Thailand, has built its entire identity around umbrella making, producing handcrafted paper and silk umbrellas that are painted with traditional designs and sold as decorative pieces as much as functional ones. There's an annual umbrella festival there too, which tells you everything about how differently an umbrella can be viewed depending on where you're standing.
Southern Europe: Sun First, Rain Second
Head to Spain, Italy or Greece and the umbrella's main job flips entirely, it's there to block the sun rather than the rain. Café terraces and beach clubs are lined with large parasols, and a folding umbrella in someone's bag is more likely to be pulled out for shade on a scorching afternoon than for a sudden downpour, which barely ever comes in the height of summer.
Britain: Practical, A Bit Reluctant, But Never Without One
And then there's us. No ceremony, no ancient craft tradition, just a nation that knows the forecast can't be trusted and packs an umbrella regardless of what the sky's doing when we leave the house. It's less about tradition and more about self-preservation, four seasons in a single afternoon will do that to a country. We reckon there's something to be said for the British approach though, whatever the reason behind it, we've turned practicality into a bit of an art form of our own. We've taken bits from everywhere too if you think about it, a pagoda shape for the wedding party, a clear umbrella for anyone who wants to actually see where they're going, a proper windproof golf umbrella for the football on a November night, and the classic black umbrella tucked under an arm on the way to the office.
It's a nice reminder, really, that something as simple as a stick with a canopy on top can mean completely different things depending on where you're standing, shelter from the sun in one country, a mark of royalty in another, and in ours, just the thing you'll curse yourself for forgetting the second the first drop hits.
By Emma Barber
