About East London Parasol Company

ABOUT US

This year East London Parasol Company celebrates it’s 10th birthday and it feels like it’s gone very quickly!

Whilst living in Kerala, Southern India, Lucy saw decorative parasols used in religious celebrations. Inspired by the riotous colours she bought her own to celebrate under, little knowing this would lead to a business. On her return to East London she continued to celebrate under her parasols and soon no occasion was complete without one.

As I embarked on this journey I encountered skilled craftspeople making parasols and decorations by hand. I was profoundly moved by the beauty of the processes, the timelessness of their techniques and the unique nature of the products they make. Over the past decade it’s become a mission and vocation to bring work to craftsmen, to work with unmechanised production and with small scale artisans who are proud of what they produce. We have worked together for many years now, across huge changes in our worlds to create ever more beautiful parasols to delight our customers.

I’ve been incredibly lucky to spend time in colourful, beautiful and creative places which have opened my eyes to how to create vibrant and welcoming spaces. India and Bali have been key influences in my taste and style.

When I started this business my simple aim was to make something full of joy which would put a smile on people’s faces and make them feel fabulous. I wanted to inspire people to embrace colour and theatricality. And what is more cheerful and fabulous than a flamboyant sun parasol?

Lucy Ferguson

round bamboo parasols

HANDMADE BY ARTISANS IN BALI

Our round bamboo parasols and their bases are made by Balienese artisans in over 20 separate stages, using traditional techniques which take days to complete. We are proud of our role in keeping artisans in work and their skills alive. The fact that the parasols are handmade is an essential element of their appeal: many of these processes cannot be mechanised without compromising the beauty and personality of the fabrics. The round bamboo parasol poles are carved with chisels, and the artisans carve the pattern twice. Once the pattern is carved they paint the notches with metallic paint.

Whole streets of Balinese artisans have taken 6 months to make the bamboo parasols. These handmade products are very beautiful, but slow to create. They’re a labour of love and we hope you love them too.

LEARN HOW THEY ARE MADE

OCTAGONAL PARASOLS

HANDMADE BY ARTISANS IN INDIA AND THE UK

The gorgeous canopy is made from natural cotton canvas lined with cotton sheeting. Patterned canopies are created using screen print, and each panel of the parasol is printed separately. The pattern is gradually built, each colour in the design is printed separately and dried before the next colour screen is introduced. The patterned valances are a separate printing project with their own templates.

We use pigment inks mixed by hand, and colour match by eye. It’s an art form to create an ink which dries to the perfect shade. Our tassels are hand made in Rajasthan and dyed to match our inks.

Our Octagonal Parasol frames are made from durable blonde wood with our own designs of nautical inspired brass fittings and double pulley system to make the opening easy. These are very special handcrafted garden parasols, each part specifically made for East London Parasol Co. Every Octagonal Parasol is lovingly assembled to order here in the UK.

OUR STONE PARASOL BASES

Handmade by Stonemasons in India

Our sandstone bases are hand- carved in Rajasthan, India. The family who make them have been stone cutters for seven generations, they come from an area called Shekawati which is famous for artisans and craft.