The Manufacture Le Parapluie de Cherbourg is a traditional house in which the umbrella is considered a unique object, a true work of art. Our artisans perpetuate traditional know-how and design original creations every day, combining robustness, refinement and elegance. From design to production in our workshops, each of our exceptional umbrellas goes through numerous manufacturing stages. Discover what each of them looks like and delve into the secrets of the Manufacture Le Parapluie de Cherbourg.
The Manufacture Le Parapluie de Cherbourg is much more than an umbrella manufacturer. Truly passionate about this accessory, we are committed to showcasing its nobility and helping our customers discover how this splendid accessory can become a precious daily companion. Before arriving in your hands, here are some of the different stages each of our creations goes through.
At the very beginning of umbrella manufacturing, of course, is the selection of an exceptional fabric. Our experts select rolls of textile, particularly taffeta, with excellent properties. These must be impeccable, being both water-repellent and incredibly robust, all in elegant colors.
Once the rolls are received, the first step in making an umbrella is quilting the fabric, in other words, folding it into several layers. The fabric is cut using a custom-designed die cutter, according to the specific specifications of each umbrella model: golf, cane, bell, among others.
Our umbrella factory produces models with eight points. One of these is reserved for the embroidery of our logo, always tone-on-tone. Here again, absolutely nothing is left to chance. Our policy does not tolerate any approximations, and that is why this step is carried out with the utmost care. In fact, each of our umbrellas has a perfectly centered logo.
That's not all, because once the logo is embroidered, our manufacturers ensure that no threads are sticking out. When this is the case, they are cut by hand to perfect this step.
Note: The Manufacture offers you the option of personalizing your umbrella by embroidering your initials. This way, your umbrella can become a unique and personal item that you will enjoy using over time.
The strap is an essential part of an umbrella. It's the part that allows it to be closed when it's time to store it. Each strap is cut and then sewn in our umbrella workshop.
A second type of strap is also made to the same high standards. These are the straps used to make sheath bags that allow you to carry your umbrella over your shoulder or across your body.
The canvas manufacturing stage is particularly important and is what guarantees the extraordinary robustness of our umbrellas. Indeed, each of the eight points of our umbrellas, as well as the brand's logo, are assembled using an overlocker. The use of this specific type of machine allows for very high-quality finishes and stitching.
Additionally, this step ensures a strong and, above all, waterproof seam. This ensures you stay dry, even in torrential rain.
It is interesting to note that the previously made strap is sewn during this step opposite the previously embroidered logo. The canvas is finally finished with a peripheral hem. Finally, aglets are sewn to the canvas to add the final touch. Once again, our manufacturing artisans use a specially designed machine that allows us to produce an extremely strong seam for each aglet.
During this step, the previously assembled canvas is sewn to the ribs of the future umbrella. Here, we use a specific machine that allows us to achieve impeccable finishes. The expertise of our seamstresses is fully expressed during this task. They make a precise number of stitches on each rib, depending on the different umbrella models in our collection.
Each of our umbrellas has a unique finish. One of our areas of expertise is particularly evident in the hardware. These are the metal parts of Cherbourg umbrellas. They include the base, the handles, the plaque, and the Maison's iconic ring.
The aesthetics of the hardware are particularly important to us and that is why we offer a range of materials: chrome, gold, ruthenium and palladium.
Finally, our umbrella factory adds the finishing touch with the handle. For this part, we select noble woods such as hornbeam, maple, chestnut, rush, and beech. Wood is not a trivial choice. It offers a pleasant, soft, and warm grip, even in cold weather. This is how these elements are assembled on the farmhouse last, which completes the assembly of a Cherbourg umbrella. However, there are still a few steps before our umbrellas arrive in your hands.
Before an umbrella can be installed in one of our 90 points of sale, it necessarily goes through a steaming stage. This allows the canvas to be "ironed" with steam and gives it a perfect finish. It then takes one night for the umbrella to dry completely.
Finally, a meticulous and demanding quality control of the umbrella is carefully carried out. When we consider that everything is perfect, we can proceed to the final step: folding the umbrella.
At the Le Parapluie de Cherbourgumbrella factory, a total of 47 individual steps are required to produce an exceptional piece. Each step is perfectly mastered and controlled by passionate manufacturers with a taste for a job well done.
It is worth noting that when we create a new model to enrich our collection or as part of a collaboration, it can take between one month and two years. This is the time needed to produce a fully developed and excellently crafted umbrella.
Furthermore, the expertise possessed by the Cherbourg-based manufacturer is unique. Indeed, we train our artisans ourselves in our workshops. It should be noted that there is currently no national training program for umbrella manufacturing. We are thus the guardians of a unique expertise that we ensure we diligently pass on to future generations of master umbrella makers.
If you would like to learn more about our history and discover the umbrella factory during self-guided and guided tours, visit us in our workshops in the heart of Cherbourg.
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