Supporting British Industry & Craftsmanship
A sixth generation family business making bespoke handmade umbrellas for over two hundred years.
Richard Ince, sixth generation umbrella-maker heads up the nine-strong company, which makes 17,000 umbrellas a year in its workshop in Bethnal Green, east London.
As well as supplying central London retailers, the oldest umbrella-maker in the UK has survived as they have adapted with the times and can make bespoke items whether that is specially designed umbrellas for welders on the railways or for hotel doormen, newspaper vendors and bookmakers. The firm also creates one-off items for film, TV and theatre, including parasols for the iconic finale in Paddington 2.
Update: In 2025 Ince Umbrellas moved their factory to The Trampery Village in Hackney Wick.
"I had lived in Hackney and walked down Vyner Street countless times, but had failed to notice Ince Umbrellas. When researching companies for Made in London, their name came up time and time again and it was a surprise to find them in central Hackney, the change and gentrification the family must have seen over six generations in the east end is mind blowing. I love visiting family firms as there is always so much pride in what they do but also a sense of determination to keep the company going. This comes with pressure too, as they don't want to be the generation who lets the company go. There are so many challenges for manufacturing firms at present with the rise in material costs, energy and labour. I heard that Ince Umbrellas moved in 2025 to The Trampery Village in Hackney Wick / Fish Island, joining a community of designers and fashion companies, I'm glad they are still going strong." Carmel King photographed Ince Umbrellas in February 2020 for Made in London.
