Alappuzha ∙ Umbrella making is still practiced in the district by many people like ‘Kulathozhi’. The various types of umbrellas available in the market today are made from houses in Alappuzha. Taiwan, Mumbai and Alappuzha are holding hands.
It is an art to turn fabrics from Taiwan and wire from Mumbai into multi-colored umbrellas. Jalal Wahab has been active in this art form for the last 30 years. Has own umbrella manufacturing unit for last 6 years. You can get acquainted with the various stages of umbrella making.
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History unfolds
The history of the umbrella dates back to 4,000 years ago. Even the Chinese and Egyptians were the first to raise their umbrellas against the sun. The first function of the umbrella was to resist the sun. So the umbrella was made in Egypt with pineapple, papyrus and peacock feathers. The Chinese spread umbrellas with bamboo, leaves and feathers.
The umbrella was raised against the rain in the 16th century. When wax and oil were applied to the umbrella made of leaves and feathers, it was able to resist watering. In the 17th century, the umbrella became a hit in Italy, France and Britain. Then with the umbrella part of fashion. Samuel Fox of England is credited with inventing the first foldable umbrella. That was in 1851.
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Ribs
Ribs are a combination of wires in an umbrella. These are what give the umbrella its shape. The fabric of the umbrella is above the ribs. 6 small wires are attached to a ribbon of a three-fold umbrella. Ribs arrives in Alappuzha from Mumbai as seen in the picture.
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Tube
The tube is a stretchable pipe containing the handle of the umbrella. The tube is made of 3 pipes. From Mumbai to Alappuzha you will find a notch at one end of the tube and a runner at the other end and the thread for attaching the umbrella handle.
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Cloth
Umbrella fabric comes from Taiwan. Intermediaries from Mumbai bring it to Alappuzha. The fabric comes in pieces cut into triangular shapes as needed. Fabrics come in a variety of colors and designs to order.
How to build?
The unfolded ribs form an umbrella as they unfold. The ribs will be connected to the pipe for straightening. Attach one end of the notch ribs to the pipe and the other end to the runner. When the pipe is stretched, you can see the wires in the shape of an umbrella.
Now let’s prepare the umbrella
Three fold umbrellas require 8 triangular shaped fabrics as shown in the picture. First sew these 8 together. These are then attached to the umbrella. Put a ‘cap’ on the top and tighten. Each umbrella needs different sizes of fabric. Textiles and other items arrived within a week of ordering from Mumbai. It is taking longer as availability is less now.
Final touch
The grip of the umbrella is important. Attach the grip to the thread in the pipe. The whistle, the spring-loaded and the foot umbrella handles come from Mumbai. The ends of the ribs will use pearls at the ends to avoid endangering others. It is through these that the water falls.
What time!
Jalal says three and a half hours is enough to make a dozen umbrellas. That is, it takes about eighteen minutes to make an umbrella. Do not think that making umbrellas is so easy. Jalal said it was being done so quickly because it was a genocide that had been going on for years.
Kerala is holding an umbrella
Malayalam’s own umbrella is a shade umbrella from Maveli’s stories. Alappuzha is one of the hotbeds of Kerala’s modern umbrella industry. The history of Alappuzha started before independence. Before independence, Kasim Karim Seth, a native of Pakistan, used to trade in umbrellas in Alappuzha. Umbrella making did not start here at that time.
Thayil Abraham Varghese, who started living in Ambalappuzha from the Kudamalur Thayil family, joined the Kasim set in the umbrella business. Abraham Varghese was later known as Kuda Vavachan. During World War II, Seth left the business to Abraham Varghese, who traveled abroad. The returning set did not stay in business for long. Seth returned home during the Partition. He then joined Radhakrishna Umbrella Mart of Abraham Varghese S. Kumaraswamy Radar. Later became a business partner.
The Kudapperuma period in Alappuzha began in 1954 when Abraham Varghese started his own St. George’s shop west of the Alappuzha Iron Bridge. After his father’s death in 1967, his sons Abraham and Scaria came to help Vavachan in business. In 1995, they split into two companies. Two companies with Poppy and Jones. Today, Poppy and Jones dominate three-quarters of the Indian umbrella market, competing through innovation.