Instant Pleats "Snow" Color: Functionality and Evolution
When designing umbrellas, we are always searching for the optimal balance between "functionality" and "beauty." Our "Speed Pleats" series maintains beautiful folds and folds smoothly. The lightest color in this series, "Snow," conceals a technical dilemma in its manufacturing process: achieving 100% light blockage while also accurately representing the fabric color.
The choice to balance beautiful pleats with 100% light blockage
Why does our "Snow" appear slightly grayer than typical white? Usually, other companies' parasols often use a white film on the back of the light-blocking film (the side that touches the fabric) to ensure the front fabric color develops beautifully.
However, we prioritized maintaining the beautiful shape of the pleats. While we cannot disclose too many technical details, black film is more effective for shape memory processing, so we chose to use black for the back of the fabric.
Because black is combined with the white fabric on the back, the finished product inevitably has a grayish, duller color. Furthermore, when manufacturing the necessary quantity of umbrella fabric, slight color variations can occur between production lots. When the fabric was dyed with a slightly grayer tint, combining it with the black film on the back intensified the grayness. We repeatedly adjusted with our technicians, but it was difficult to consistently reproduce the specified white, leading us to conclude that the previous manufacturing method was not sustainable.
Addressing color variation and new innovations in film
We received frank feedback from customers, such as "It looks more like ice gray than Snow" and "It's duller than I expected." While we considered changing the color name, we chose to address this issue with a technical approach. For the time being, we will continue to sell it under the name "Snow," but starting with products arriving after this autumn, we will implement new innovations in the light-blocking film.
By applying a unique treatment to the surface that touches the fabric, we have been able to suppress the influence of the black backing and reproduce a color closer to white. At the same time, color variations between lots have also become less noticeable, establishing a system to consistently deliver the quality we aim for.
Current Snow and Future Snow
While an improved version of Snow will arrive from autumn, the model currently on sale is by no means inferior. Fortunately, many customers have positively received it, saying, "I liked the calm color."
Within the limited structure of an umbrella, we pursue the peace of mind of 100% light blockage, the beauty of folding, and the ideal color. Both the current slightly chic ice-gray-like color and the upcoming new color have their own merits. We hope you can enjoy comfortable outings without worrying about the sun, matching your daily attire.
