Elevating design

>>support this project<<

I didn’t have a teacher for this craft when I began making parasols. Instead, I learned how to make them with reverse engineering - taking one apart and putting it back together. I learned the components of parasol making and generated a few ideas. Your questions also helped.

I wanted to learn to make the Asian frame since it looked more hand-crafted, geometrical, and visually dynamic. Out of curiosity, I put a fabric cover on top. While I am currently exploring African prints for the covers, I intend to expand into the prints of other cultures. I want to show a sense of collaboration within ethnology.

When I began to share my creations with an audience, a few questions I had no previous thought about came to my attention. The first was if the parasols provided UV protection. With some research and additional testing, I can say that they do. More commonly I am asked if they can be used in the rain. When I first got this question, I envisioned walking down a New York City sidewalk after sunset, in the rain, and looking up to see the shine of gold. I was overjoyed immediately by that vision and I have been looking forward to the day it would come to be. Three years ago, I was searching for a way to make the parasols waterproof and came across a shipping envelope at the post office made from unique paper. It’s a durable, soft paper that feels very much like fabric. I thought, 'this would be the perfect material to use, and if it came in gold then my vision would be complete'. Sadly, I was at a loss in my research for this paper.

Circa 2023, I wandered across an Instagram post about this waterproof paper on an interior design page. Curiosity lead me to inquire if it was the same. Finally, given a lead in the hashtags, I found the company that makes the paper the post office uses for their envelopes. My timing was perfect to enter their design competition, using their paper in a new, creative application. Since I’ve had this idea for three years, I knew exactly how to use the paper.

In applying for the competition, I learned more about the brand, their sustainable practices, and the paper itself. I was also so excited to find a gold paper as well and complete my vision with such ease. I was also inspired to address another question: if there was a way to carry the parasol? I took the opportunity to make a carrying case and shoulder strap.