Ince Umbrellas: Makers for over 200 years

“The time it takes to construct an umbrella, completely depends on the type of product; compact, bespoke frames, one-off props.” Richard Ince, of Ince Umbrellas, the oldest umbrella manufacturer in the UK told TM. Compacted umbrellas are pictured. Compacted umbrellas are pictured – image courtesy of TM. Just off Vyner street and the buzz of Bethnal Green, East London, is 200-year-old umbrella manufacturer, Ince Umbrellas. The family-owned business has been making bespoke umbrellas for centuries. This soon became obvious when seventh-generation umbrella maker, Richard Ince talked about the history of the business and the skills involved in umbrella construction. The key to umbrella construction “To make an umbrella, simply, it is pattern-cutting, assembly and stitching of the canopy, and then this is attached to the framework. It is then pressed, rolled and trimmed.” Ince said to The Manufacturer. He gestured toward the vast variety of umbrellas in front of us, from the more common compact folded umbrella, to one-off umbrella props for stage shows like Mary Poppins, right through to bespoke solid shafted umbrellas made of hickory and maple wood. “No umbrellas are as elaborate as they were 50 years ago, there was a whole industry in the UK making handles out of precious metal, horn and ivory.” The manufacturer works across two levels in the factory, the bottom level is dedicated to pattern-cutting the eight-panel umbrellas, frame construction and handle attachment. The upper-level is for canopy assembly, stitching, quality control measures and packaging orders.

For more information on Ince Umbrellas: Makers for over 200 years talk to James Ince & Sons (Umbrellas) Ltd