MAKING OUR PARASOLS
"I work closely with artisans in the UK, Bali and Jaipur. The relationships I’ve developed with my suppliers have become a joy, they know my friends and have met my parents and I know their families too. It’s become a partnership and they’re incredibly proud of what we create together."
ROUND BAMBOO PARASOL CANOPIES
Handmade in Bali
These parasols are made in Bali and the canopies of the round bamboo parasols are sewn onto the frame as it is suspended from the ceiling! The digitally printed parasol fabrics are lined up with great care to ensure the pattern matches around the edge and at the join. Our floral painted canopies are done by hand, with no stencil or sketching. It’s a beautiful, meditative process that can take more than a full day to complete. Unlike other Balinese parasols, ours are decorated all over the canopy and it’s a joy to sit underneath and see the sun shining through the wonderful artwork.
"The fact that the parasols are handmade is an essential element of their appeal: many of these processes cannot be mechanised without compromising the beauty and personality of the fabrics. The parasols have contrasting coloured or thread-work linings, making the insides (which you look at when sitting underneath) as striking as the outsides."
ROUND BAMBOO POLES
Handmade in Bali
The round bamboo parasol poles are carved with chisels, and the artisans carve the pattern twice. They start by making all the cuts in one direction down the pole, and then they turn the pole around and make the cuts in the other direction to form the pattern.
Once the pattern is carved they paint the notches with metallic paint.
THREADING & FRINGING
Handmade in Bali
The intricate thread-work inside our round bamboo parasols happens at the very start of parasol making, after the spokes have been set into the central hub. The artisans weave the threads around the spokes in a process which can take a whole day to complete.
The fringing is known locally as ‘rambu’ and is tied by hand in long sections, and then hand sewn around the parasol after it is painted. Once the fringing is attached then the tassels are sewn on.
OCTAGONAL PARASOL CANOPIES
Handmade in Rajasthan, India
Our canopies are screen printed in Rajasthan, India. Each colour in the pattern has its own screen, and each panel is printed separately. Some of our patterns require 28 screens to print the canopy and its valance.
The fabric dries suspended from wooden beams in the desert: it’s like stepping back in time
OCTAGONAL PARASOL FRAMES
Handmade with love
"Our Octagonal Parasols feature water-resistant canvas canopies, and the parasol frame is made from durable blonde wood with our own designs of brass fittings and double pulley system to make the opening easy. Please note that the rope ties off around a brass cleat hook fixed to the pole, not on a hook from the hub. These are very special handcrafted garden parasols, each part specifically made for East London Parasol Co.
SANDSTONE CARVED BASES
Handmade in Rajasthan, India
Our sandstone bases are hand- carved in Rajasthan, India. The family who make them have been stone cutters for seven generations, they come from an area called Shekawati which is famous for artisans and craft.
THANK YOU
I’m incredibly grateful to the wonderful, conscientious people I’ve worked with for over 8 years for their hard work. These craftsmen and women are really proud of what they make and particularly love seeing photos of your parasols at home. Please continue to send us photos of your parasols, it is joyful to share your pictures with them.
