Folding manual umbrella with multicolored thin line patterns

Folding manual umbrella: 96 cm open, 24 cm closed

The canopy measures 96 cm across when open, about 38 in, which is enough to keep you and a shoulder bag out of the rain. It comes to just 24 cm when folded, roughly the size of a pencil case. Push the shaft up until it clicks, then pull it back down to close: the opening is manual, with no spring mechanism to wear out. One less thing to go wrong. If you'd rather press a button, you'll find the semi-automatic and automatic models in the same umbrella range.

Eight panels, eight ribs

The canopy is cut into 8 identical sections. Each one is held out by one of the 8 ribs, which spread the tension right to the edge. The stripes carry on from one section to the next, so the pattern runs unbroken all the way round. Only the black seams give the joins away.

Fine multicoloured lines on black

The whole effect rests on how fine the stripes are. Narrow bands of pink, lime green, orange and blue ring the canopy against a deep black. Seen from directly above, they close into concentric rings. The rest of the time you notice the colour before you notice the pattern.

The umbrella that lives in your bag

At 24 cm it takes up next to no room: flat in the bottom of a tote, upright in a side pocket. It's the kind of umbrella you leave in your bag for good, rather than one you have to remember on the way out. Which bag it lives in is another matter, and our bags and small leather goods are a good place to start.

Once the rain stops

Leave it open, or at least half open, to dry before you fold it away. Fabric that's folded away damp picks up a musty smell and holds its creases.