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PingMag gets the back story on Tokyo-based Canadian expat John Di Cesare's Parashell umbrellas & parasols. Working with a 73 year old umbrella maker in Ome, near Tokyo, he prototyped an idea he had back in Canada based on the shapes and forms of sea shells.

In Japan, everybody and his uncle has an idea for a weird-shaped umbrella. Seriously, if you go to the patent office you see. So I think for them, they were just like, "Here we go, another guy with a weird umbrella idea."

We've seen a few asymmetric umbrellas to tackle fierce weather, this one's more of a well-made elegant accessory and given the increasing awareness of the sun's harmful damage, there's certainly a growing niche market for the parashell.

Read Interview: pingmag.com