Bloomberg Businessweek - USA (2021-02-08)

TheBriggumbrellaisjollygood

protection,whatevertheprecipitation

PhotographbyNailaRuechel

A Cool, Dry Place

Thelifespanofthe
typicalumbrellais
tragicallyshort.It’s
limitedtoopening,
blockingraindrops,
andclosing—before
beingleftina cab
afteronetothree
uses.Buta good
onecansurvive
manyseasonsof
inclementweather.
Attheverytop
endofthemarket
arethehandmade
umbrellasfrom
England’sSwaine
AdeneyBrigg,which
haveshieldedthe
headsofkings
andqueens,prime
ministers,and
thousandsofwell-
coiffedimitators

sincethecompany’s

foundinginthe

19thcentury.The

silk-canopied£925

($1,264)Malacca

PrinceofWalesis

sonamedbecause,

yes,it’susedbythe

princehimselfand

is arguablythemost

iconicofthemall.

THECASE

Everythinginthe

PrinceofWales

umbrella—fromits

solid-silvernose

captoitsstained

beechwoodshaft—

is assembledby

handatBrigg’s

factoryinNorfolk.

Ribscanbemade

THECOMPETITION

• JamesSmith&
  Son’shandmade
  Cityumbrella(£204)
  alsohasa handle
  madeofMalacca,
  a lightandresilient
  wood,andis draped
  withItaliannylon.


• Createdfromone
  continuouspiece

ofcherrywood,

Pickett’s£395

umbrellais wind-

testedtospeedsup

to 27 mph.

• A fashionable
  lookregardlessof
  weather,Francesco
  Maglia’s€520
  versionhasa handle
  finishedinleather.

61

THE ONE Bloomberg Pursuits February 8, 2021

up to 27 inches. (It

can take as long as

eight weeks from

order to delivery.)

Nylon is the most

common canopy

material today, but

silk has a better

look and feel and

is the traditional

choice. When

closed, the Brigg

has a willow-thin

profile that’s easy

to miss, so if you’re

spending this much

on an umbrella,

spring for a collar

engraved with your

name: This is one

you’d like to have

returned. £925;

swaineadeney

brigg.com