Pretty parasols protect the sun-shy from harmful rays

"Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun."

By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer

Umbrellas are not just for keeping you dry, but also shade you on those sunny days. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

On a Caribbean cruise in 1992, Woo saw people carrying umbrellas for sun protection. In an "Ah ha!" moment, she bought two, one for herself and one for Kawauchi.

The two have been carrying umbrellas ever since. In fact, Woo collects umbrellas on all her travels, bringing back one for herself and one for her umbrella buddy. Their favorite is a linen and Battenberg lace parasol purchased in Hong Kong.

Cheryl Tipton of Makawao, Maui, is a strawberry blonde with a fair complexion whose skin belies her age by at least 20 years. Her anti-aging arsenal includes an umbrella.

"I've carried umbrellas for years as sun protection," she said. She finds decorative paper ones in Chinatown and at Siam Imports in Mo'ili'ili. "I always keep one or two on hand because they are a little hard to find. They are great for sun, not so good in rain. And people unfailingly comment about my umbrella."

Arguably the most high-tech and fashionable umbrella on the market is the classic Burberry brand. Its umbrellas are now lighter than ever, as the frames, shafts and handles are crafted from fiberglass and aluminum rather than stainless steel. The new construction also makes them rustproof, according to Burberry's Carolyn Iwasaki.

Burberry also has solved the age-old problem of wind damage. The flexibility of the metal enables the umbrella to be snapped inside out, flipping back again with a flick of the wrist.

The British firm has added a feature sure to win a car-lover's heart: When the Double Cover umbrella is opened, it makes the same "whoosh" as the opening of a luxury-car door.

Another fashion company that has entered the umbrella market is Brighton Accessories. It has designed an umbrella with a black-and-white print featuring illustrations of the firm's other products, such as shoes, bags, wallets, belts and watches. Piped in red for added flair, it sells for $25 at Silver Moon Emporium in Hale'iwa.

Solumbra has taken the typical umbrella's natural sun protection a step further. Its umbrellas, with a 48-inch arc, are made of the company's trademark 30-plus SPF fabric. The local distributor, Sun Protection Hawaii, said these offer 97 percent UV protection. They come in yellow, stone (or beige) and indigo blue and sell for $42.95.

Burberry, $90.		Siam Imports, $18.		Sun Protection Hawaii, $42.95.