Labor Day has come and gone, it’s breezy and cooler in New York, and they’re predicting rain tomorrow. A quick search of the coat closet for an umbrella to stash in my bag revealed a sad but familiar situation: a little pile of three tacky black folding numbers, complete with ugly chromed plastic doo-dads on the handles and broken spokes (no doubt purchased under duress from street vendors), and one proper English model, the price of which induced a sickening buyer’s remorse, even back in 2007 when I bought the thing. None would do.
Coincidentally, I was strolling past the Chelsea Muji store late this morning. For those of you who don’t know Muji, it’s a Japanese outfit that sells a highly edited assortment of beautifully simple and well-designed clothing, accessories, stationery and household goods.
Inside, I found these umbrellas. They’re sturdy but light, and come in the same great colors in both standard and folding models. The handles and spoke tips are plastic, but still feel solid and satisfying, and the whole item is mercifully free of any branding or other bright shiny objects. Best of all, at only $13.99 a piece, I could afford to stock up for my inevitable taxicab and cloakroom losses during the wet months to come.
To find the Muji store nearest you (unfortunately, so far only in New York in the U.S.), or to shop online, visit http://www.muji.us.
