A worker adds the finishing touches to a giant Pathein umbrella.

WITH only a few workers on hand, the workshop keeps ticking over late into the night. Sometimes they used to talk about movies they have seen recently, perhaps even about their families. But these days most of the workers time is spent the working in silence. There is no time for fun, no time to joke. The place seems dry.

In the workshop, one woman paints a big umbrella, two thread the inside lining, while another two make small practical-sized umbrellas. Two men weave the umbrella fabric through the oversized frames.

The scene in this workshop is totally different compared to tat I witnessed last year. Then the sound of laughter, joking, and talking in the bustling workshop was commonplace.

Owned by Shwe Sar Pathein, this umbrella factory in Pathein township, Ayeyarwady division, seemed to have changed.

Last year the workshop employed more than 50 workers and produced 90 big umbrellas a day, struggling to make enough umbrellas to satisfy the demand of foreign markets – including Australia, France and Germany. But today only 10 workers remain.

“This year, we reduced the number of workers because we have less orders from foreign countries,” said Daw Mi Kywet, the owner of Shwe Sar Pathein Umbrellas. They are the only exporter of umbrellas in Myanmar and their product if of the highest quality.

Pathein umbrellas are a very popular souvenir for tourists’ visiting Myanmar. Pathein, the home of the umbrella, is the standout location for those wanting to buy authentic Myanmar umbrellas. Situated conveniently close to the beautiful beaches of Ngwe Saung and Chaung Tha, Pathein has a vast array of umbrellas, in all shapes, colours and sizes.

“We can make different styles of umbrellas to suit the customer’s requests. We have a catalogue to show them and they usually order from here. If not, we can try our best to accommodate their design ideas. Most often they are buying them for their homes or for business, like hotels at the beach,” said Ko Nay Myo, Manager of Shwe Sar Umbrella factory. International orders do continue to come into the factory. The orders normally range in size from 10 to 120 umbrellas at a time.

But things aren’t that great this year. “Last year we produced more differently decorated umbrellas. We hired many workers. Some were packing in here. Some were labeling the export goods. All were happy, “said Daw Mi Kywet.
While the tourists are sure to return shortly, the brief lull this season has meant that Shwe Sar Umbrellas has begun focusing more on the export market.

The owner of Shwe Saw Umbrellas, U Min Naing, studied in Singapore and while there realized that the potential business opportunities that were in the Pathein umbrella industry both in Myanmar and abroad.

The original Pathein umbrella came from Upper Myanmar, dating back to when…..

After Myanmar’s last king Thi Baw was captured by the British in 1885, the umbrella makers in Upper Myanmar came down to settle in Pathein and it is there that the art has survived ever since, providing the locals with their livelihood.

While under British rule, Pathein umbrellas’ were recognised by the imperialists for there colour, distinguished designs and the quality of the materials and craftsmanship that went into each umbrella. Yet they did not export them back to the United Kingdom at that time.

Since then, the Pathein umbrella has been famous across Myanmar for there style and elegance but the demand for the umbrella has gradually declined over the years as the standard black satin umbrella started taking a significant market share.

Today, Pathein umbrellas are used only occasionally. “People buy the umbrellas as a symbol of Pathein and Myanmar – a souvenir. So we depend on the visitors,” said Daw Sein Yi, who owns an umbrella shop on Shwe Zedi Street, Pathein.

More than 50 umbrella workshops in Pathein manufacture the different kinds and sizes of umbrellas for children, men and women, monks and nuns, big umbrellas for the beach and hotels. Prices for a single umbrella range from K3000 to K70,000.

While the beauty of Pathein umbrellas is assured, the town itself longs for more business. Hopefully that will improve with increasing tourist numbers and an expanding export market. While at this stage the international market is reserved for Shwe Saw Umbrellas, as information spreads one should not be surprised if they walk past someone on the streets of New York carrying a beautifully striking Pathein umbrella.