A Mere 200g! The Allure of Amvel's Parasol, Meticulously Designed for Heat-Shielding and High Performance

Since its founding in 2016, Amvel Co., Ltd. has consistently introduced lightweight, high-performance umbrellas, leveraging its technical expertise honed through OEM manufacturing.

Their design philosophy, centered on "heat-shielding, water-repellency, and high functionality," has led to a product that redefines the parasol's role as it becomes an essential item in our changing climate.

This very product is their latest model launched on Makuake: the "KALCT HEATBLOCK Aluminum Silver." We had the chance to sit down with Amvel's CEO, Yoshihiro Tsujino, to discuss the story behind its development and its unique technical features.

Ending the "Throwaway" Culture: Amvel's Umbrella Revolution

In the Japanese market, cheap plastic umbrellas have long been treated as disposable commodities. But who hasn't felt a twinge of dismay at the sight of broken plastic umbrellas piled up pathetically at train stations and on streets the morning after a typhoon? Tsujino was one of those people. A scene he witnessed around Shibuya Station during his time in sales at another umbrella manufacturer became the very origin of Amvel's current manufacturing philosophy.

He wants to break free from the cycle of mass production and waste, and instead cultivate a culture where people use quality items for a long time. To make that happen, Tsujino explains, umbrellas need "high performance" and "durability"—features plastic umbrellas just don't have—along with "lightness" to make them easy to carry. The risk of umbrellas becoming trash is especially high in densely populated urban centers where people are always on the move. This is exactly why he saw the need for a durable product that people could grow attached to and use for years.

This also explains why Amvel is a big fan of the crowdfunding platform "Makuake." Instead of just pitching a tool for staying dry, they can present their technical evidence to an audience of early adopters who care deeply about specs and performance. The "KALCT HEATBLOCK Aluminum Silver" we're featuring today is the perfect embodiment of this philosophy.

Why a Stick Umbrella Now? The Perfect Solution for Frequent Use

The recent parasol market has been dominated by folding models that prioritize portability. And yet, Amvel's latest release is, quite deliberately, a "stick umbrella." This seemingly contrarian strategy, he says, is rooted in the unique way people use parasols.

With a rain umbrella, you generally only use it when it's raining. Once you're inside, you close it and might not touch it again for hours. A parasol, on the other hand, is used off and on throughout the day whenever the sun is out: the morning commute, a lunch break outing, the trip home. When you consider this "high frequency of opening and closing," the "hassle of folding" a compact umbrella becomes a real source of stress for users. The whole process of carefully folding the fabric and putting it back in its case just isn't practical for frequent use.

A stick umbrella, however, opens and closes smoothly, minimizing the stress of putting it away. Tsujino wanted to re-emphasize the convenience of a stick umbrella for this kind of "on-and-off" usage.

Of course, stick umbrellas have the drawback of being bulkier to carry, but Amvel has tackled this challenge by making it so incredibly "lightweight" that the benefit far outweighs the con. In a market fixated on folding designs, their choice to shine a spotlight on the functional superiority of stick umbrellas was only possible because they deeply understand how people actually use them.

Ultra-Lightweight at 200g: Strength Forged from Aircraft Materials and Shock Absorption

The most striking feature of the "KALCT HEATBLOCK Aluminum Silver" is its incredible combination of lightness and strength. Despite being a full-sized umbrella, it weighs only about 170 to 200 grams. That's about half the weight of a standard vinyl umbrella from a convenience store (approx. 300g) and, astonishingly, is comparable to a single can of coffee.

The key to this weight reduction is the use of "carbon fiber," the same material found in aircraft and luxury sports cars. By constructing the entire umbrella frame from carbon fiber, the creators achieved a dramatic weight reduction without sacrificing size or strength. While the cost is significantly higher compared to metal frames, Tsujino declares it's the only material capable of creating an umbrella that is both lightweight and durable.

Another standout feature is its unique "integrated resin joint" structure. Conventional umbrellas use metal parts like "eyelets" or "rivets" to connect the ribs. This product, however, employs resin-molded joints. This design choice not only shaves off the weight of metal components but also adds structural flexibility.

The magic behind this is a "damper function" with spring-like elasticity. Inspired by the sole structure of athletic shoes, according to Tsujino, this system functions much like a car's suspension. When hit by strong winds, the joints expand and contract to absorb the impact, reducing stress on the ribs and preventing breakage.

Tests have proven its wind resistance, demonstrating that it won't flip inside out even in winds of 8-9 m/s. This design, leveraging both advanced materials and innovative structure, truly showcases the pinnacle of Amvel's engineering expertise.

Aluminum Microparticles That Repel Heat: Astonishing Temperature Control

The core technology for battling the harsh summer sun is the "Aluminum Silver" coating, a feature so important it's part of the product's name. The paint contains fine aluminum particles that efficiently reflect light, delivering superior heat-shielding performance.

The HEATBLOCK fabric used in this product features a three-layer structure: a base fabric, a light-blocking layer, and a surface PU (polyurethane) coating. By infusing aluminum microparticles into this PU coating, the umbrella physically repels infrared rays—the primary source of heat.

According to heat-shielding tests conducted by Amvel, while the temperature of an untreated fabric soared by nearly 34 degrees Celsius, this product's fabric kept the temperature rise to a mere 2 degrees.

While white fabric is also known for its light-reflecting properties, the aluminum coating achieves a heat-shielding rate of 92.4%, outperforming white fabric's rate of approximately 88%. This translates into a noticeable difference in perceived temperature, making you feel as cool as if you've just stepped into the shade.

Of course, developing this silver coating came with its own set of challenges. The silver color is prone to light transmission, making quality control exceptionally strict to achieve a 100% light-blocking rate. Initial prototype batches only reached a 99.9% light-blocking rate, and the team had to meticulously fine-tune the fabric's thickness to finally hit the 100% mark.

Furthermore, the company also focused on the gadget's aesthetic appeal, adjusting the color from a plain silver to a more luxurious, gunmetal-like hue.

From Rain Shield to Life-Saving Gear for Scorching Heat

With climate change making scorching heat waves the new normal, the purpose of an umbrella is evolving. It's no longer just for "avoiding rain" but is now essential for "protecting your body from the heat." While parasols were once seen mainly as a women's fashion accessory, they are now being rapidly adopted by men for the practical goal of preventing heatstroke. Tsujino tells us that Amvel's product lineup reflects this trend, with a gradual shift in focus from rain umbrellas to parasols and all-weather models.

However, the umbrella industry is grappling with new hurdles. A major one is the environmental regulation restricting the use of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). With the phase-out of fluorine-based chemicals, which have long been the standard for water-repellent coatings, it's becoming technologically tougher to maintain high performance. This is evident in the "KALCT HEATBLOCK Aluminum Silver"—its silver-coated outer surface is waterproof, meaning it blocks rain, but it isn't water-repellent, so it doesn't make droplets bead up and roll off. Tsujino stresses that this is an unavoidable trait of the material and that customers need to see it as a "specialized umbrella, distinct from a typical rain umbrella."

Looking ahead, the company plans to roll out updates based on user feedback. These include introducing a pleating process to make the umbrella easier to fold and further refining the frame to better resist flipping inside out in the wind.

Amvel isn't just making disposable items; they're delivering "functional umbrellas" built to be cherished for years. Their ongoing quest, a fusion of Japan's legendary *monozukuri* spirit of craftsmanship and cutting-edge material science, points toward a new horizon of product possibilities.