Umbrellas originated in China and Egypt and were used as protection for royalty from the rays of the sun. They were made of cloth with a bamboo shaft and carried by a servant and provided shade for royalty.

They became popular with the upper class In Europe in the sixteenth century as protection from the sun and rain.

Jonas Hanway in England in the late seventeen hundreds introduced a device made of bamboo, wood and a cloth canopy with a plastic lining. This device became commonly used by the public.

During the later part of the 19th century, the umbrella in its current form materialized. Today, umbrellas are produced from a variety of materials and are available in a vast number of sizes and shapes.

Umbrellas are used as a media to advertise a business, profession or event. Umbrellas have a large imprint area and can be decorated with a company logo, emblem or promotional message. They are given away as corporate gifts, thank you gifts or utilized as a marketing media to introduce a new product or service.

Custom umbrellas can be manufactured to the clients exact specifications. However, most companies utilize a stock umbrella in a specific size and color and imprint them with a variety of images and colors.

The term golf umbrellas primarily relates to the physical arc size of the umbrella. When the umbrella is open, the arc is the measurement from one side of the top over the top to the other side of the top. Umbrellas with an arc size of 60" or large will cover two to three people.

Golf umbrellas also have a straight shaft and handle. A true golfer will never use an umbrella with a metal shaft. Umbrellas with a wood or fiberglas shaft are considered lighting proof and are preferred by golfers.

Companies sponsoring a golf tournament produce golf umbrellas on which their logo and promotional message is displayed. For advertising purposes, these umbrellas are given to the players and also the general public attending the tournament.

Golf umbrellas are perfect for sporting events where two individuals are sited side by side. When open, a golf umbrella will protect both individuals from the elements.

Stick umbrellas are identical to golf umbrellas but have a smaller arc size. The average arc size of a stick umbrella is 48". This type of umbrella is commonly used by the general public. They are manufactured from the same materials as golf umbrellas and are also used for marketing and promotional purposes.

Fashion umbrellas are identical to stick umbrellas with the exception that they have a curved handle. Men prefer fashion umbrellas because when they are closed they utilize them as a walking stick.

Solid white fashion umbrellas are commonly used as wedding favors.

While there are a large variety of umbrellas manufactured and sold the world over, some manufacturers maintain a separate unit to design and create custom umbrellas. These are umbrellas that are created according to the customer requirements.