Core77

Though the collapsible umbrella was invented roughly 2,000 years ago, major product updates have been slow. In recent years we've posted on the SENZ and the Nubrella (pictured above), but it's taken until now for someone to take a biomimetic stab at the bumbershoot.

Inspired by flower petals that unfurl, Talus Furniture's Calyx Umbrella prototype (video below) contains ribs that expand both radially and sideways. It's clearly not yet ready for primetime, but will hopefully be that important first step towards Umbrella 2.0.