The History of the Umbrella: From Ancient Sunshade to Modern Rain Gear

Updated August 2026.

The umbrella is thousands of years older than its use in the rain — ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Mesopotamian societies used sunshades as symbols of status and protection from heat centuries before anyone waterproofed one.

Sunshade first, by a wide margin

Carved reliefs and historical records from ancient Egypt, Assyria, and China show fixed and folding sunshades carried over or near rulers and nobility, functioning as both practical shade and a visible marker of rank. In much of the ancient world, carrying or being sheltered by one was a privilege, not a household object.

China and the shift toward waterproofing

Historical accounts credit ancient China with early waterproofing of umbrella canopies, using waxed and lacquered paper to shed water — centuries before Europe adapted the object for rain use. This is generally considered the origin point of the umbrella as rain gear rather than pure sunshade.

Europe's slow adoption

In much of 17th and 18th century Europe, umbrellas were still associated primarily with women and considered impractical or effeminate for men to carry. That perception shifted through the 1700s as waterproofed umbrellas became more widely available and practical for everyday city use, gradually becoming standard rain gear for anyone, regardless of gender, by the 19th century.

From utility to craft

Once the umbrella settled into its modern rain-gear role, the same instinct that made ancient sunshades status symbols resurfaced: handle materials, canopy patterns, and construction quality became ways to distinguish a considered object from a purely functional one — the same logic behind a house like Pasotti building a reputation around handle craftsmanship centuries later.

Quick answers

Who invented the umbrella?

No single inventor — sunshades appeared independently in multiple ancient civilizations, including Egypt, Assyria, and China, well before waterproofing existed.

When did umbrellas start being used for rain?

Waterproofed paper umbrellas are generally credited to ancient China; European adoption for rain use developed later, through the 17th and 18th centuries.

Were umbrellas originally for men or women?

Early European rain umbrellas were associated mainly with women; broader use by men developed through the 1700s as the practice became more normalized.