Are Handmade Umbrellas Worth It?

The short answer: yes, if you want one umbrella that you keep for years rather than a cheap one you replace every winter. A handmade umbrella costs more at the start, but you are paying for better materials, careful construction and an object you will want to look after.

What you pay for in a handmade umbrella

• The wood. All the wood in a Bucklesbury umbrella is English, from sustainable forests. The London Umbrella is made from one continuous length of English chestnut, with no joint between handle and shaft.
• The construction. Each umbrella is constructed by hand in London, in small batches, and individually finished by a craftsman.
• The canopy. Japanese-engineered canopy fabric, 106 cm across on the Classic Umbrella.
• The way it is used. A good umbrella feels balanced in the hand and becomes something you carry rather than something you lose.

Questions people ask

Why are handmade umbrellas so expensive?

Because they take time. Each one is made by hand in small batches, from solid wood rather than metal and plastic, and finished individually. A mass-produced umbrella is made in large numbers on a production line.

How long does a handmade umbrella last?

With simple care, many years. Leave it open to dry after use, never store it wet, and keep a wooden handle away from radiators. See our umbrella care advice.

What is the cheapest handmade umbrella you make?

The Telescopic Umbrella at £135. It folds to 45 cm and opens automatically.

Is a handmade umbrella a good gift?

Yes. It is useful, it lasts, and every Bucklesbury umbrella arrives in a cotton cover and a presentation box. See the best umbrella gift for a man.

Every Bucklesbury umbrella carries our Rain Tested In England™ trademark. See all umbrellas.