THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF TECHNOLOGY
FRANCESCO MAGLIA
THE MAN WHO STOPPED
THE RAIN
Author: Matthieu Deneuve
In the autumn season the amount
of precipitation increases all
around Europe, the rain becomes
quotidian. It is unavoidable to use one
of the best inventions, the umbrella.
The Italian Francesco Maglia is the
founder and owner of Ombrelli Maglia,
the most famous premium quality
umbrella producer in the world.
Francesco started his career in 1850,
when he was only 14 years old, as a trainee
in an umbrella producing factory
not far from Brescia, in Montechiari.
The Maglia family is originally from
Valganna, and particularly they were
coal miners and woodcutters.
In 1854, when Francesco was 18, he
became a partner of an umbrella factory
in Verolanuova, then he moved
to Pavia and established his own company.
The headquarters of the company
stayed there until 1876, then
it moved to Milan at Corso Genova
7 and stayed there until 2003. Since
then the shop is at Ripamonti 194.
Through their history the family mainly
produced umbrellas, but because
of the emerging needs of the customers,
they produced sunshades and sometimes
straw hats too.
The current owner, who was also
named Francesco, not only loves
his work, but passionately searches
for and collect magazines, documents,
postcards in connection with
umbrellas, not to mention his collection
of vintage umbrella-making
equipments. His collection has been
growing through the years of business
trips; he already has more than
three thousand pieces of relic, and
most of them was displayed in several
exhibitions.
The history of umbrellas date
back thousands of years to the
Near East, where the statues of
Ninive still represents the original use
of sunshades, as a servant holds a sunshade
above the ruler’s head to protect
him from the sunshine. The usage of
shades and canopy was quite common
for the rulers, but only they were allowed
to use them. Through the years
it changed and became part of almost
everyone’s life. Many vintage advertisements,
especially in the 1930’s, represented
the gentlemen of London by
carrying an umbrella in one hand, and
a pair of leather gloves in the other.
Fashion also reached the world of
umbrellas as a man appearing with an
umbrella has always been considered
rather elegant. However, the umbrella
was invented for practical use, but
since it has been developed, it is now
much more of a stylish accessory for
both ladies and gentlemen. Umbrellas
are perfect to level up a smart or business
outfi t, but during historical times
it happened to replace a walking cane
with all its features. The umbrellas are
mostly made from waterproof materials,
the sunshades are rather made
from lace or other type of soft and fi ne
materials.
The etiquette concerning umbrellas
has only one point: when being in the
company of a lady, the handle of the
umbrella should be held by the man.
Thusly was it done by Prince Harry in
the company of Duchess Meghan.
Unquestionably, today’s most frequent
form of umbrella is the classic type.
The classic umbrella has two types:
manual and automatic, which allows to
be easy and quick to open and close by
one hand. The classic umbrella has a
bent handle with a longer shaft. They
are similar in size to the golf umbrellas
the doormen or guards used all
around to the world. These umbrellas
were made to cover more than one person,
and the bent handle makes it easier
to hold it for a longer time in a right angle.
Certainly, there are premium umbrellas,
so their prices are higher. Until today
most of the luxury auto producing
companies are designing their cars with
in-door umbrella storage, to makes it easier
to store and hide.
The travel-size umbrella is the most popular
umbrella type nowadays, as it ha
a shorter shaft, its handle is straight or a
knob type, and it is automatic. As its size
is smaller and it can be folded, it makes
it easier to be stored in a bag or a car,
even there are umbrella types which can
be stored in a pocket of a coat. In case of
these types of umbrellas it is rather important
to examine them precisely before
buying because they are usually not as
durable and well-made as the traditional
umbrellas.
