Product Development Story | VERYKAL8

Many people have experienced their folding umbrellas turning inside out or having their ribs broken due to sudden strong winds. While most folding umbrellas have six ribs primarily to prioritize lightness, in modern cities exposed to strong winds from buildings or sudden gusts, that lightness can sometimes lead to a lack of stability.

The starting point for the development of VERYKAL8 was to find a way to balance "structural strength" to reliably protect against rain and wind, fulfilling the umbrella's original purpose, with "lightness" for portability.

A major hurdle in development was maintaining the lightness characteristic of "VERYKAL" while increasing the number of ribs. Naturally, adding two more parts would increase the weight, but we solved this problem by selecting the right materials.

We adopted lightweight and elastic carbon fiber for the main parts of the frame (main ribs) and combined it with 15-denier lightweight ripstop fabric. As a result, we succeeded in achieving a lightweight design of approximately 230g, despite it being an 8-rib automatic open/close umbrella.

We didn't just increase the number of ribs. By having eight ribs, the shape of the umbrella became more circular, increasing the coverage area by approximately 6% compared to conventional 6-rib types (of the same main rib size). This design provides practical peace of mind, preventing backpacks and shoulders from getting wet.

Keeping a VERYKAL8 in your bag at all times provides stable usability even on windy days. The eight ribs efficiently deflect the wind, providing strong support for travel in bad weather.

What we aimed for was not just specifications on paper, but reliable quality that can be trusted even in harsh weather. We hope that this single umbrella, combining lightness, strength, and ease of use, will become the new standard for everyday life.