The Story Behind the Thermos '&ONDO' High Heat-Blocking Model: Applying the Vacuum Flask Concept to a Parasol

Thermos, a pioneer in vacuum flasks, has launched its first spring/summer item, the "COOL Heat-Shielding Parasol" from its apparel and accessories brand '&ONDO.'

We spoke with Yuka Kambayashi from the Public Relations Department at Thermos K.K. to unravel the story behind its development. We’ll explore how the concept of heat and cold retention from vacuum flasks inspired the parasol's design, its unique fabric structure, and the design philosophy aimed at making sweltering summers more comfortable.

Can the Vacuum Flask's 'Temperature-Controlling Concept' Be Applied to Everyday Spring and Summer Life?

Thermos has always developed products that maintain the temperature of beverages using its vacuum insulation technology. The new '&ONDO' brand, launched in 2024, is built on the concept of "self-care through temperature." Following their fall/winter items like room socks, the development of a parasol as one of the 2024 spring/summer items was driven by the serious challenges people face with the recent extreme heat.

"We’ve seen incredibly hot days in recent years. We wanted to offer products that would help people live more comfortably even in that heat, which is why we decided to develop spring/summer items," she explains. "A parasol, in particular, not only protects a part of your body but also creates a cooler space all around you, easing the heat."

While Thermos's vacuum insulation technology isn't directly applied to the parasol's structure, the idea of keeping cold drinks cold in a vacuum flask inspired the concept of "carrying a cool space" with you by using a parasol.

"A vacuum flask has a double-wall structure with a vacuum in between the inner and outer bottles, which prevents heat transfer. This is similar to the philosophy of creating layers to retain heat, which you can also see in &ONDO's fall/winter accessories. In line with our company's tagline, 'Creating the next level of comfort,' our main focus for the parasol's development was on how to ensure the user stays as comfortable as possible."

The Color vs. Performance Dilemma: A Hurdle in Parasol Development

One challenge they faced during development was the "performance difference based on color." Generally, white and light colors are good at reflecting heat but have poor light-blocking properties, while black and dark colors excel at blocking light but tend to absorb heat. &ONDO's "COOL Heat-Shielding Parasol" offers a clear solution to this problem.

"A major feature of our parasol is that the heat-blocking rate is the same no matter which color you choose. It was a challenge to guarantee the same heat-blocking rate across different colors, but by engineering the fabric, we managed to achieve a high rate for every color.

Even among colors that all look white, there can be differences in their heat-blocking performance. I heard from the product planning team that they went through a lot of trouble to select the optimal fabric."

The high heat-blocking model, SG-C601F, is available in three colors: White, Light Beige, and Light Blue. All colors boast impressive specs for a parasol: a heat-blocking rate of 60% or more, a light-blocking rate of 100%, a UV cut rate of 100% (UPF 50+), and a near-infrared cut rate of 99.9% or more.

This high performance is made possible by a fabric structure uniquely developed by Thermos. It features a two-layer structure, with a laminated film that provides heat-blocking, light-blocking, UV-cutting, and near-infrared-cutting properties applied to the inside of a high-density, double-weave fabric.

"The coolness of the &ONDO parasol is designed with the top priority of suppressing temperature increases around the head. By using a black laminated film on the underside to completely block sunlight penetration, it prevents heat from passing through. As a result, it creates a space around your entire body that mitigates the heat."

Higher Heat Shielding Means More Weight. How Did They Tackle This Contradiction?

Pursuing superior heat-shielding properties thickens the fabric, which inevitably adds to the parasol's overall weight. The lightweight SG-C602F model was developed to resolve this trade-off.

"Generally, you need a thick fabric to achieve high heat-shielding. However, it was extremely difficult to make it lightweight while keeping the fabric thick. We spent a lot of time on material development and design innovations to overcome this hurdle."

The lightweight model weighs about 210g, light enough to carry every day without being a burden, while still ensuring a heat-shielding rate of over 40% for all colors. Since the metal parts like the main ribs are almost the same as the high heat-shielding type, the key to its lightness lies in the fabric itself.

"For the high-density fabric, we adopted lighter-than-ever fibers. We then applied a pearl coating with heat-shielding, light-blocking, UV-blocking, and near-infrared-blocking properties, and bonded a laminated film to the inside to create a 2.5-layer structure."

This achieves a level of heat-shielding performance that’s difficult to get from a single material, thanks to the 'synergistic effect of a multi-layer structure.' Even though each layer is thin, the combined power of the coating and the film effectively blocks out heat and light.

Heat Shielding Alone Isn't Enough: How User Feedback Led to Two Perfect Solutions

The reason &ONDO launched two models—the 'high heat-shielding model' and the 'lightweight model'—stems from genuine feedback gathered during initial user research. This research highlighted consumers' pressing concerns about what they truly want in a parasol.

"When asked what they would expect if Thermos were to release a parasol, the most common answer was 'UV protection performance,' followed by 'high heat-shielding properties.' With summers getting hotter every year, customers are not only focused on UV protection but also strongly on how to stay cool and comfortable."

On the other hand, 'heaviness' was a common complaint about the parasols people were using daily. To meet these two distinct needs, the company created one model with enhanced heat-shielding performance and another focused on portability.

Furthermore, internal testing during the development stage revealed another challenge: the thick fabric made the parasols difficult to fold. For an everyday item, making it easy and stress-free to pack away is a crucial factor.

"For the high heat-shielding type, we received a lot of feedback initially that it was difficult to put away because the fabric is thick. So, without changing the fabric's performance, we widened the strap that holds the umbrella together and made the storage pouch slightly larger to improve usability."

Thermos's New Vision for Summer Comfort

Parasols were once seen mainly as an accessory for women to prevent sunburn. However, with recent climate change, their role has evolved dramatically.

"Today, they are no longer just for blocking UV rays. Like handheld fans and neck coolers, they have become items chosen from the perspective of how to stay cool and comfortable. It's an era where heat protection is essential for everyone, regardless of gender or age, including men, business professionals, and even children."

&ONDO's parasols boast a simple design that works in any setting, from the office to a day out. The high heat-shielding model comes in brighter colors, while the lightweight model offers more subtle shades like silver and metallic gray, letting you carry your own 'cool space' wherever you go.

Finally, Kanbayashi spoke about the future outlook for the brand. "We want to expand our lineup for all seasons, not just spring/summer and autumn/winter, to help our customers make the temperatures they experience in their daily lives more comfortable. We plan to develop products that allow people to live more comfortably, rather than just enduring the heat or cold."

The 'hot and cold' association with vacuum flasks now extends to a new product: the parasol. By blending reliable heat-shielding technology with meticulous, user-centric design, &ONDO's parasols are poised to make daily travel more comfortable as the seasons grow ever hotter.