East London Parasol Company – Live Colourfully

Live colourfully is the motto of East London Parasol Company and with summer getting into full swing, somewhere, this glorious array of hand block and digitally printed patterns, scallop edges and tasselled parasols will make your outside space glow in glorious technicolour.

A parasol makes a party, and is perfect for shading dining alfresco, setting the scene for a garden party and even carrying your mind to an exotic holiday far, faraway.

Designer and founder, Lucy Ferguson, was inspired by the riotous colours of decorative parasols used in religious celebrations in Kerala, South India and bought her own one back to celebrate under in East London. Soon no occasion was complete without one, and little knowing this would lead to a succesful, sustainable business.

“My aim was to make something full of joy which would put a smile on people’s faces and make them feel fabulous. I wanted to inspire people to embrace colour and theatricality. There is always space for bit of delightful eccentricity and what is more cheerful and fabulous than a flamboyant sun parasol?”

We quite agree.

Lucy Ferguson, Founder of East London Parasol Company

Lucy recently created parasols with the designer Alice Temperley but for her own for 2021/2 collection she’s now introducing geometric patterns, chevrons, hand-painted black patterns and black lacquer poles alongwith recoloured William Morris prints.

East London Parasol Company’s octagonal parasols range from bright colours, geometrics and contemporary prints to tasselled on-trend Regency-style glamour and are screen printed in Rajasthan, with Velcro at the corners for easy cleaning.

Their colourful and luxurious round bamboo parasols handcrafted in Indonesia and India will instantly transport you to the tropical Far East.

Every piece in the range is a labour of love, a contemporary design made by traditional methods in Britain, India, and Bali and for every parasol sold, they plant a tree.

The FSC-certified ash wood frames are handmade in Hampshire by local carpenters who had previously been making stage scenery and lost their work to the pandemic. The silver fringes are made in Kerala by the temple umbrella makers and the canopies and cushions are made by talented local people using hand block printed cottons from Jaipur and hand-painted fabrics from Bali.

And importantly, the parasols have contrasting coloured or thread-work linings, making the insides (which you look at when sitting underneath) as striking as the outsides.

 

 

Aretha octagonal parasols with geometric designs are block printed on natural coloured waterproof cotton canvas with coloured zig zags. The underside is a soft colour of choice with an Arabian-influenced valance and handmade natural cotton tassels. The frame is pale wood with brass fittings and a cast grey slider.

 

GREY ARETHA OCTAGONAL PARASOL 2 & 3 METRE CANOPY from £965

 

Gloria, a Balinese round bamboo parasol is new for Spring 2022 and is digitally printed on light cream with a design of running leopards in charcoal grey on waterproof canvas. The parasol is lined with creamy yellow taffeta, with dark taupe threading inside and bamboo spokes. The fringing is in cream and taupes with dark tassels and gold beading. The pole is made from hand-carved durian wood with gold paint and finial with the pole join made from solid brass. Comes with a cotton bag with strap for carrying & storage.

GLORIA ROUND BAMBOO PARASOL- 2 metre at £399 and 3 metre for £985.

 

For a splash of colour this Olivia round bamboo parasol (£399) is scarlet red twill with lotus design hand-painted in gold ink with pink threading inside and bamboo spokes. The pole is made from hand-carved durian wood pole with gold paint and finial, the pole join is made from solid brass. The fringing is in shades of red and dove grey with the most beautiful hot pink tassels.

OLIVIA ROUND BAMBOO PARASOL- PREORDER SPRING 2022 2 METRE CANOPY £399

Make your outdoor space colourful, elegant and glamorous with this show-stopping garden parasol.

You’ll also want one of the gorgeous bases to support and show off your parasol. For the Round Bamboo Parasol Pole which has a diameter 4cm / 1.57inches you can buy this heavy carved parasol base made from suar wood. The base is limed, dried and aged, it weighs around 27kg and costs £295.

Beautiful, heavy carved parasol base made from suar wood.

For the octagonal parasols you will need a Octagonal Parasol the diameter is 4.5cm / 1.9inches and if your parasol is not set in a table, choose the heaviest possible base. This stunning, heavy carved stone garden parasol stand is made by seventh generation stone carvers from Rajasthan and is a very special piece and part of India’s craft heritage. This stand is decorative and practical, a low profile and beautiful base to your parasol. It weighs around 60kg

SANDSTONE OCTAGONAL PARASOL BASE £395

 

East London Parasols are one-of-a-kind and beautifully hand crafted with great materials, style and with heart and soul. For sale worldwide.

Now you can complement the look with Indian cotton, block printed napkins.

Rather wonderful hand block printed cotton napkins in vivid colours – six for £35

 

www.eastlondonparasols.com 

Instagram @eastlondonparasolco

We first met the gorgeous Lucy Ferguson in Kerala in 2012 at the Kochi Biennale, and can see that she has always supported local craftspeople and initiatives such as the beach clean up for Global Ocean. She’s definitely one in a billion!

Lucy Ferguson Christmas 2012 in Kochi, South India

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