A Gift for Every Occasion: Handmade London Umbrellas
Some gifts are opened, admired and put away. The best are carried. An umbrella is used on every grey morning of the year, and a well-made one is noticed each time it is opened, which is why it suits so many of the occasions on which a lasting gift is wanted.
This guide sets out which Bucklesbury umbrella suits each occasion, from a birthday to a retirement, and how every one is presented, ready to give.
Why an Umbrella Makes a Lasting Gift
A good gift should be personal without being presumptuous. An umbrella is used by everyone, whatever their taste, yet a handmade one feels considered rather than merely practical. Each Bucklesbury umbrella is constructed by hand in London, in small batches, using traditional techniques, and is individually finished by a craftsman. The design appeals to anyone who values its design and craftsmanship, and it is a gift that is used rather than kept in a drawer. It asks very little in return: a few minutes left open to dry after the rain, and a neat furl once it is dry.
For a Birthday
For a birthday, the Bucklesbury Classic Umbrella is the natural choice. It is built on a shaft of solid English beechwood, with a canopy of Japanese-engineered fabric 106 cm across. It is about 91 cm long and weighs about 0.5 kg, so it is comfortable to carry every day. Black is the most versatile colour; navy blue and green are equally traditional. Our birthday gift guide has more ideas.
For a Retirement
A retirement marks the end of a career and calls for a gift with some permanence. The Bucklesbury London Umbrella is made in the most traditional way an umbrella can be made: its handle and shaft are one continuous length of English chestnut, with no joint between them. It is a gift that will be carried long after the farewell, and our guide to a retirement gift to mark a career explains why it suits the occasion.
For an Anniversary
In the traditional list of anniversary gifts, wood marks the fifth year, and a wooden umbrella is a fitting way to observe it, or any anniversary that follows. For her, the Bucklesbury London Ladies Umbrella is made in the same way as the London Umbrella, from one continuous length of English maple, and comes in champagne, ivory white, black and green. For him, the Bucklesbury London Umbrella in English chestnut is the natural partner. Our anniversary gift guide sets out both.
For a Wedding
At a wedding, an umbrella is both a practical precaution and a gift that is kept long after the day. The Bucklesbury Classic Ivory White English Wedding Umbrella is built like the Bucklesbury Classic Umbrella, with a solid English beechwood shaft and an ivory canopy 106 cm across. Our guide to choosing a wedding umbrella covers ivory and champagne, and umbrellas for the wedding party.
For the Traveller
For someone who commutes or travels often, the Bucklesbury Telescopic Umbrella folds to 45 cm, so it fits a bag or briefcase. It opens automatically and has a canopy of Japanese-engineered fabric 102 cm across, which makes it a considered gift for everyday journeys.
For Christmas
At Christmas, an umbrella is a gift that will be used through the winter that follows. For fathers, our guide to Christmas gifts for Dad explains which umbrella to choose. For UK delivery before Christmas, please order by Wednesday 16 December; for Europe, by Friday 11 December; for the USA and Canada, by Thursday 10 December; and for the rest of the world, by Thursday 3 December.
Presented and Ready to Give
Every Bucklesbury umbrella is dispatched in a cotton cover and a Bucklesbury presentation box, so it arrives ready to give. A gift note can be added on the product page when you order. UK delivery is free, and we send worldwide by DHL Express. All of our gift ideas are gathered on our umbrella gifts page.
Made in London
Each Bucklesbury umbrella is made by hand in London, in a workshop with umbrella-making heritage dating back to 1805. Whichever occasion it marks, it is a gift made to be carried for many years, and our Umbrella Care notes explain how to keep it at its best.
