Company Overview

Brollymart was established by entrepreneur Tommy Okechukwu with the aim to turn around the umbrella and return to its rightful position as an essential item. His aim is to “brighten up your day” offering you a wide range of branded rain protection products to suit your specific requirements.

At Brollymart, we strive to blend necessity, fun and fashionable designs with quality materials and workmanship so you can enjoy your Brollymart product time after time, confident in the knowledge that it has been designed to last. With the celebration of climate change at the core, Brollymart brings to life what is generally perceived as a boring, disposable, last-minute item. An obvious canvas for expression, the designs encourages people to enjoy and take pride in what is an indispensable, quintessentially Nigeria accessory.

Using the combination of age-old techniques and speedy revolving technology, Brollymart continues to supports it's range with key luxury brands and accessories for Kids, Ladies and Gentleman, made using only the finest materials and quality craftsmanship. Quality is the cornerstone of our success and we use only the highest specification materials and exacting engineering standards before beautifully hand finishing every product.

During the design and development phase of new umbrella frames, technical research is undertaken by a team of Mechanical Engineers who design specialist components and materials to maximise overall performance. All our brands undergo rigorous testing for strength, safety and durability, and we also employ extreme stress tests inside the manufacturers’ Lab before final production. No two customers have the same requirements and we sell umbrella ranges to every budget and specification whilst still retaining the Brollymart levels of quality and excellence.

Brollymart is proud to be the largest supplier of quality umbrellas in West Africa with particular interest in Nigeria. We are the real specialists when it comes to umbrellas and we passionately strive to push the boundaries of development in dealing with the inclement West Africa weather. Our eye-catching seasonal ranges encapsulate the latest designer influences, whilst maintaining a sophisticated and balanced offering to ensure that we have something for everyone.

Combining the aesthetic design of our products, from the fashion prints to handle and case designs, together with the technical performance criteria which underlie every umbrella, we ensure that Brollymart’s products are unique from a functional as well as visual perspective setting us apart from the rest, a first for the umbrella industry in Nigeria. Brollymart works with many of the biggest names around the world and although you won’t see the Brollymart name on the products, our standards of excellence are still very much in evidence.

Brollymart brands are known the world over for their strength and durability and highest quality craftsmanship. Each brand is handmade by employing centuries old techniques, newly innovative technology, sourcing the finest cloth, ethically sourced handles and hardwoods from sustainable woodlands from around the globe. Built for durability using a Grade A steel frame, hand sewn reinforcements, lathe-turned brass fittings and proofed water resistant cloth. These elements, if cared for correctly, ensure that your Brollymart umbrella lasts a lifetime.

Brief History

The actual origin of the umbrella is so ancient as to be lost. It is quite probable that the umbrella was evolved from a primitive shelter of leaves carried by some old Adam long before the earliest known civilisation came into being.

As social life developed from family to tribe and from tribe to small kingdoms the leafy shelter developed into a canopy, which in turn became more ornamental and finally became a symbol of rank.

Whilst man however may have given ceremonial value to the umbrella it is woman's changing fashion that we owe much of its development.

EASTERN ORIGINS

According to Chinese legend the origin of the umbrella goes back to about 2000 years B.C., and in China more than in any other country the umbrella became a distinctive mark of rank. Emperors and Imperial rank in Japan, Indian Princes, Assyrians and Persians also used umbrella to denote rank.

RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS

Use of the umbrella in religious ceremonies is associated with tree worship. In his fifth incarnation the Hindu God Vishnu rises from hell bringing Varuna's rain giving umbrella with him, whilst some figures of Buddha are shown adorned with umbrellas.

THE UMBRELLA COMES TO EUROPE

Apparently the umbrella entered Europe via Greece, Italy and Turkey. Tradition has it that the Normans brought the umbrella to England with them (presumably some sort of canopy regalia) in 1066, but there is nothing very tangible to support this. Umbrellas were however in common use in France in 1620. It is often claimed that umbrellas were introduced to England by Jonas Hanway about 1750, but this is definitely not correct. They are mentioned in Gays Trivia, The Art of Walking the Streets of London, published in 1712 and also in the Female Tattler for December 12th 1709. But Jonas Hanway was the first Englishman to carry an umbrella regularly. He was pelted by coachmen and chairmen for his persistence, since they saw this craze could endanger there own means of livelihood.

It should be remembered that in those days the only covered transport was the private coach or Sedan chair. Also that the umbrellas were very heavy, ungainly things made with whalebone or cane ribs, mounted on a long, stout stick of about 1" in diameter and covered with a heavy cotton fabric, waterproofed by oiling or waxing.

Only on a few public buildings was rainwater led from the roofs by gutters and fallpipes. In the main the water simply ran off the roof into the street. Although sometimes it was collected in gutters under the eaves and poured out like a miniature Niagara Falls, through the mouths of grotesque gargoyles at each corner of the building. Pavements were unknown and the gutter or kennel was in the middle of the street. The choice was then either to carry one of these portable tents or get soaked.

Customize / Bespoke

A completely bespoke service is offered for all Brollymart products on show in our stores and via our website. We can develop unique and exciting designs in-house for you using our experienced in-house design team or we can also work to your own designs and apply our expertise in adapting them to umbrellas.

Brollymart takes pride in tailoring your umbrella so that it is perfectly suited to your requirements. All bespoke umbrellas are made to order ensuring our skilled craftsmen can adjust the canopy size, the walking length and size of the ribs and handle, all done to suit the client specification by hand or machine.

Our loyal customers appreciate these timeless skills. Notwithstanding the general economic crisis, in Africa there are still organizations who continue to produce customized/bespoke umbrellas and distribute them in every corner of the world with a brand/product name that serves as effective advert platforms.

We also have an extremely large stock holding capability in our Brollymart warehouse which is invaluable in assisting our retail customers with their own stock planning. With the unpredictability of the West Africa weather, because the stock is held on site, we can offer fast and accurate deliveries, ensuring that you need never be out of stock.

Of course, this website offers an array of handmade umbrellas – everything from ladies 20” canopy umbrellas with hand-stitched fine leather handles, to traveller models that ingeniously unscrew to fit in your suitcase.

For gentlemen, we have unusual umbrellas – why not choose an umbrella that conceals a flask? With a choice of fine leather umbrella handles, and even a solid sterling silver handle, we have a model to suit any mood or climate.

We would be delighted to make umbrellas for your company or club – please email info@brollymart.com