Swaine Adeney Brigg Store No.11 in TimeOut "100 hottest shops"

The Swaine Adeney Brigg store is placed at No.11 in TimeOut London's list of "100 hottest shops".

The review...

Swaine Adeney Brigg

There is no such thing as ‘just an umbrella’ in the rarefied confines of Swaine Adeney Brigg.

Brolly aficionados have made pilgrimages to this store since it opened in Piccadilly 250 years ago. The skins of Brigg umbrellas are made from totally waterproof triple-woven silk, stretched over the patented Fox Frame, which is designed to resist even gale-force winds. And the core of a Brigg umbrella is a hand-polished stick of wood rather than a tube of metal. Even the retractable brass clasp is engineered by hand to ensure a long lifespan. Eccentric details such as a pencil-holder on the horse-racing umbrella, so that gamblers might write out betting slips, makes British craftsmanship of this kind a joy to behold. Prices for a typical gentleman’s umbrella start at £195. Just don’t leave it on the bus.