BANGALORE: The rain-gods are showering its bounty on the city taking the weather back to being air-conditioned. The monsoon is here again and people in the city are busy choosing umbrellas to brave the mighty rains. Just stop in front of any street vendor selling parasols, you will see them patiently choosing one perfect for their need with utmost care. Starting with Rs 35 for the smallest one, prices of these umbrellas go up to a whopping Rs 2000. They come in all sizes and fabrics too. "We have umbrellas that measure 10 inches to 60 inches," says Dharmesh of Popular Umbrellas. Umbrellas are a much needed accessory in India. During the monsoon they sprout like mushrooms everywhere. In addition to being used in the usual fashion as a shelter from the rain, they are commonly seen popped up over motorcycles and bicycles.The humble umbrella is making a comeback as the latest "must have" fashion accessory. Umbrellas shouldn't just be something used to block the rain. It should be an extension of who you are as a person. It should reflect your style and personality. Umbrellas that were earlier made only to serve a purpose have now become a way of making a style statement. Long gone are the days of solid black umbrellas donning the city with a solemn look, but today umbrella-makers are getting more and more experimental with their designs and people are simply lapping it up. Pastels have given way to bright colours and floral umbrellas have been substituted with checks and polka dots. And, if you are feeling a tad feminine, then frills are the way to go!In this age when pocket umbrellas are popular, many of the youngsters in the city are seen sporting the long, single fold crook-handle umbrella too. Varieties are available in pastel shades of baby pink, mint green and blue, purples and reds, they are a modern version of the Victorian design and look flirty and feminine. Colours are getting brighter and bolder each season, oranges, yellows and bright neon hues are being preferred. Men are fortunately not left behind, with a diversion from the boring black, umbrellas in deep navy blue, military green and grey with checks or stripes are the popular choice."All my old stock (collection of umbrellas) has already been sold and even the new stock is almost on the verge of getting cleared. The unpredictable weather conditions, with intermittent showers every alternate day, have also compelled people to buy umbrellas and raincoats as most of them are no longer willing to put their health in danger. We are also being experimental with colours and the youngsters seem to love it," Sunder, a shopkeeper on Brigade Road says. A number of shopkeepers, including those selling umbrellas and raincoats by the roadsides in Chickpet and Mamulpete, also witnessed brisk sale.Expert Dermatologist, Dr Tanushree Dutta says, "Umbrellas are extremely important means of physical protection from the rain as well as the sun. In terms of protection we consider two factors, one is physical protection and the other is chemical. Chemical protection is through sunscreens, but physical protection is much more superior so umbrellas are needed. In a place like Bangalore, U V index is very high whether in sun or rain, hence the possibility of a person getting UV damaged is more high compared to any other places." She also added, "It should preferably be a two-layered umbrella, outside must have a lighter colour and the inside must have a darker shade, as the lighter shade acts as a reflector and the darker as a non- reflector." Dr Akrithi Shetty, a hair specialist cautions, "Avoid getting your hair wet in the rains and never tie wet hair. Dry it as soon as possible, especially if you have long hair, otherwise the roots of your hair may rot andproduce a bad smell. Pollution, suspended particles in the air which come down with the rain, can settle on your scalp and make your scalp itchy and lead to hair problems. Umbrella can be a useful weapon against this." She advises people to cover their hair when going out in the rains. A trendy umbrella or a stylish raincoat can not only protect your hair but also make a style statement.As per estimates, the region witnesses sale of over one lakh umbrellas each year with heavy demand pouring in from rural areas and outskirts. As the city is one of the prominent markets of monsoon commodities, it generates huge demand in the monsoon season with more than 80% of the sales witnessed in the three months of June, July and August.
Comments
0 comment