Forgotten Hong Kong Icon: Are These the Best Umbrellas You’ll Ever Own?

Hong Kong is no stranger to bad weather. Typhoon season from May to October brings sudden showers and powerful thunderstorms. While not all umbrellas survive the wind and rain, those made by Leung So Kee Umbrella Factory hold up. The brand’s household tagline says it all: “Real steel ribs, lifetime warranty.” 

It is a promise dating back to 1885, when its founder, Leung Chi-wah, also known as Leung So, opened the first store in Guangzhou. At that time, on rainy days, Chinese people wore palm-fibre raincoats known as 蓑衣 (so1 ji1 in Cantonese or suoyi in Mandarin), or carried oil-paper umbrellas with bamboo frames. These were no match for Western umbrellas. 

A former ragpicker and repairman, Leung was impressed by the strength of the foreign umbrellas after fixing a couple of parasols. He taught himself the craft and began making large British-style umbrellas with steel ribs imported from overseas. 

Leung So Kee (梁新記 leung 4 san1 gei3) quickly became a household name as a pioneer of Western-style umbrella making in China and known for its lifetime repair service. But the good times did not last. Amid the country’s political upheaval, the Leung family moved the business to Macau in the 1920s and later to Hong Kong in the 1940s.

Today, only one Leung So Kee shop remains. Located in Tsim Sha Tsui’s busy Park Lane Shoppers’ Boulevard, it is run by the founder’s great-grandson, 67-year-old Leung Man-shing, who still puts quality handmade umbrellas and aftersales service first. 

Filling the shelves are umbrellas in different shapes, sizes and designs, with prices ranging from HK$400 up to HK$1,500. All are handmade in the tiny workshop at the back of the shop by the fourth-generation owner and his staff. “If you buy a Leung So Kee umbrella, any damage to the ribs can be repaired for free, regardless of how it happens,” Leung says. 

Even amid economic downturns and shifting times, the time-honoured brand has lived up to its promise. “My father always reminded me to keep that in mind. No matter what happens, we stick to what was passed down through generations.” 

An iconic umbrella 

Leung So Kee’s story is closely tied to the city’s changing way of life. When the brand opened its first Hong Kong branch on Des Voeux Road in Central in 1941, its sturdy umbrellas were a luxury. 

Aside from its classic long Western-style umbrellas with steel ribs in black and blue, Leung So Kee was also the first to introduce folding umbrellas, known as “shrink bone umbrellas,” using materials sourced from around the world: steel ribs from Europe, canopy fabric from Japan and end tips from Taiwan.  

“My father said [his] 馬姐 (ma5 je2, Cantonese domestic helper) would put a Leung So Kee folding umbrella, with a flower engraved on the top, in their rattan basket when going grocery. It cost about one month of their salary,” says Leung, taking an early folding umbrella out of its paper box.

This 10-steel-rib green umbrella was given to the shop by a customer whose mother bought it in the 1940s. Decades later, it is still in good condition. “You can see ‘West Germany’ engraved on the steel shaft. You can feel the weight when holding it. It’s rugged. That’s why it has lasted so well and is fine to use today,” he says with evident pride. “People took pride in carrying a Leung So Kee umbrella. It was a showcase of taste and identity. They were valuable enough to be pawned.”

At the time, he says, only three brands had such a reputation: Leung So Kee, 時來 (si4 loi4) and 梁新記 (leung 4 san1 gei3), the latter of which was run by the family that also founded Red A Plastic. 

Once a symbol of social status, the brand’s umbrellas also made their way onto the big screen. One of the most well-known is the Wong Fei-hung umbrella featured in the 1991 martial arts film Once Upon a Time. Starring Jet Li as the legendary martial arts master Wong Fei-hung, the film’s production team ordered 26 classic 10-steel-rib black umbrellas from the shop as props for the action scenes, in which the protagonist used an umbrella as his second weapon.

“The production company broke two umbrellas and came to us for repair, complaining about their quality,” Leung recalls, laughing. “Of course the umbrellas will not survive a fight. They were not made for kung fu but for use in the rain.”                  

Weathering change, staying true

Taking over the family business in 1975, Leung has witnessed the storms faced by the brand and the industry. At its peak, Leung So Kee had more than 10 shops across Hong Kong, from Shanghai Street and Nathan Road to Central, North Point and Wan Chai. The brand’s heyday — also the zenith of the city’s umbrella-making industry — lasted until the 1970s, when China’s industrialisation brought cheaper, mass-produced umbrellas. 

“It is more efficient for quantity,” says Leung. “With one button, you can make thousands of umbrellas. But they are all decided by the businesses, which customers don’t have a say.” But Leung has spent years mastering his craft. “Our [umbrellas] are different. We can tailor the fabric, design and type of umbrella to what you want. It is about catering to everyone.

Officially recognised by the Hong Kong government as intangible cultural heritage in 2014, umbrella-making consists of two key components: the ribs and the fabric. The process involves several steps, from cutting the fabric with a triangular model and sewing the panels together to assembling the handle and cap. Normally, making an umbrella requires at least six ribs and eight being the standard. The more ribs it has, the sturdier the umbrella. 

“There are a lot more cheap options nowadays. I have even seen some with only five ribs, which will be blown inside out in seconds,” says Leung. His umbrellas have up to 12 steel ribs, which he says makes them strong enough to withstand a typhoon.  

Yet many people now opt for cheaper umbrellas, treating them as replaceable and disposable items. “Lighter is better. It would be even better if it were small enough to fit into a handbag,” says the umbrella maker, reflecting changing preferences in rainwear. 

Today, you can pick up an umbrella at a convenience store for around HK$50. Even imported umbrellas from Japan and the UK sold at major shopping malls generally cost no more than HK$200, still less than half the price of a Leung So Kee umbrella.

Yet the brand has retained generations of loyal customers, while also attracting tourists looking for “Made in Hong Kong” rainwear and a growing number of younger customers, thanks to its unwavering commitment to craftsmanship and willingness to move with the times. Over the decades, Leuing has studied umbrellas made by other brands and in other places such as Taiwan and UK, using what he observed to develop products that respond to changing needs and trends. 

Alongside its classic steel-rib umbrellas, Leung So Kee now offers umbrellas in materials ranging from carbon-fibre ribs to fibreglass-reinforced plastic, as well as UV protection and a variety of patterns to appeal to a new generation. During the pandemic, the brand also set up an online store and social media accounts to reach a wider audience that helped them weather the economic downturn. 

“There used to be a lot of umbrella-making shops. As one of the last remaining in the city, we will also continue to improve our products to keep up with the trends and hopefully more people can know about our existence.”

Still holding up

In Europe, where the umbrella was invented, some century-old brands are still weathering storms from mass-produced umbrellas, such as James Smith & Sons in central London, which dates to 1830, and Mario Talarico, which has operated in Italy since 1860. Heatwaves have also created a new market for sunbrellas, especially for fashion shows and weddings, according to The Guardian.

Hong Kong, however, is less likely to benefit from the trend. Despite the city’s harsh summer sun, its many indoor spaces and covered areas mean people have less surge for sunbrellas to shield themselves. 

On the last day of 2025, Sun Nga Shing Umbrella Store in Sham Shui Po closed its doors after 183 years in business. The closure of the long-established handmade umbrella shop was another reminder of how traditional craft businesses are struggling to survive a shrinking market squeezed by mass production, compounded by a lack of successors to carry the craft forward in the city.

Now, as one of the last remaining handcraft umbrella brands, Leung remains hopeful about what lies ahead. Rain still brings in business, as the shop bustles with customers and tourists looking for umbrellas that can withstand the weather. During the typhoon season, Leung works with five craftsmen to produce and repair hundreds of umbrellas every month.

His daughter, Kiki Leung, the fifth generation in the family business, also helps with the brand’s marketing. “She focuses more on promotion and logistics. For the craft, we have experienced sifus to take care of it. We also recruit and train people who have retired from the manufacturing industry. Although the city no longer has factories, many people used to work in them and their skills are still there,” says Leung. 

After a lifetime around umbrellas, he sees their value beyond the practical use, but also as lasting expressions of affection. He has met customers who bring back broken umbrellas and share their stories, some left only with a handle. The brand’s umbrella-making workshops are also popular at festivals and on occasions such as Father’s Day and Mother’s Day.

“They have sentimental value. When people carry an umbrella given by their loved ones, they feel grateful,” says the owner. His goal is to one day bring Leung So Kee back to Hong Kong Island and introduce the brand to more people. “Aside from doing business, we also want to help more people and share our culture with younger generations so it can live on.”

Leung So Kee is located at Shop G36, Park Lane Shopper’s Boulevard, 111–181 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.