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Upside Down Umbrellas

The Unbrella by H-Concepts Boasts a Much More Practical Design

— November 6, 2013 — Art & Design
Umbrellas may be a completely practical invention, but they are not always reliable; the Unbrella by H-Concepts, a company hailing from Japan, hopes to change that by turning it on its head--quite literally. The designers have essentially turned in upside down and inside out to create more stability when used in unpredictable weather.

Although a rather revolutionary concept, with the stretchers on the top rather than on the bottom, the Unbrella by H-Concepts simply rearranges assets it already has. With this difference, the untraditional umbrella now folds upwards rather than downwards. As such, the wet surface of the Unbrella is contained inside the fabric, which offers yet another benefit to such a design tweak. Not to mention that the Unbrella by H-Concepts can stand up on its own, so there is no need for a prop.
Trend Themes
1. Inverted Umbrellas - Opportunity for creating innovative designs that offer more stability in unpredictable weather.
2. Foldable Upwards - Chance to create a new category of umbrella that folds upwards rather than downwards, containing the wet surface inside the fabric.
3. Self-standing Umbrellas - Potential for developing new umbrella designs that can stand up on their own, eliminating the need for a prop.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - Opportunity for fashion designers to create stylish versions of the inverted or self-standing umbrella.
2. Outdoor Gear - Innovation opportunity for outdoor gear companies to develop more durable and reliable umbrella designs for unpredictable weather.
3. Travel Accessories - Chance for travel accessory companies to develop portable and compact versions of the inverted or self-standing umbrella for easy packing and transportation.
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