PlainGeets

Now that’s an odd choice of object to be sentimental about, right? You wouldn’t question my rather ardent loyalty for Sun umbrellas though, if you had bought an umbrella in France!

Let’s go back a bit to the origins of this rather mundane object, which was originally created to provide shade to kings (thus the name with its prefix of “umbra”) in ancient Egypt. Once it entered Europe, its use expanded from a royal accessory to a popular (and rather) essential part of the wardrobe of European women who wanted to protect their pale skin from the sun. Umbrellas (or parasols) were thus associated with women, till the 18th century when English men started carrying a sturdy version of the umbrella as protection from the infamous rain in England! 🌂 But the umbrella remained a rather expensive commodity for the wealthy, till much later when the use of steel, aluminum, fiberglass and nylon started democratizing the accessory.

In France, umbrellas, like most things, are objects of elegance with a certain style and sophistication. Chic, but not very sturdy in comparison to their cousins across the channel. After all, they do have to be petite and light, so that the bearer doesn’t look a burdened and clumsy oaf while carrying them around town! On that note, did you know that the umbrellas of Cherbourg (created after the famous film with Catherine Deneuve) are famous not only for their style, but also their quality? One of the recognised “Made in France” objects, they can be found in the official shop at the Élysée Palace, the residence of the President of the French Republic.

But that’s a rare (and rather expensive) brand. The average umbrellas in France might be elegant, but they are also extremely flimsy, and falter at the first gust of wind. We’ve been forced to buy an umbrella, or two during our stay here, and not a single one has lasted long. In fact I would as far as saying that they have often failed us within 5 minutes of their acquisition.

In contrast, my faithful Sun umbrella has stood strong against the winds, and has almost never turned. The brand has been around for over a century, and has been my steady companion through every Indian monsoon (and every trip outside India)! ☔ The website boasts of the superior quality of material used by the brand, “precision molded handles, easy-to-snap-open-or-shut frames to the variety of waterproof fabrics, UV protected fabric” with a guarantee that the umbrella you buy is durable for many seasons. I can definitely vouch for that! 😉

Given how much it rains in France, and how strong the winds can be, a sturdy umbrella is an essential part of my bag. So imagine my distress when I found myself temporarily without a Sun umbrella! Almost enough to make me want to break into a song, and definitely enough to plan to buy not just one, but two spare umbrellas on my next trip back to India!

“In the land, where rains descend with might,
Sun umbrellas bloom, a steadfast sight. ☔
Crafted by skilled hands; their vibrant grace,
In tempest’s face, it finds its rightful place.
A strong shield, with colors bold and bright,
Defies the wind, stands tall against the fight.
In monsoon’s dance, they bravely spread their wings,
To shelter souls from the watery ire that nature brings.”

P.S This is not a sponsored post! 😀