Handmade heirlooms

Easily broken and frequently lost, the humble umbrella is not usually seen as a luxury item. But for Frenchman Michel Heurtault, whose creations can sell for thousands of euros, that is exactly what they are.

The 48-year-old artisan uses the finest materials for his umbrellas and parasols, which are made to last and intended to be handed down from generation to generation.

He has just been named a Master of Art, an honour bestowed by France on highly skilled professional artisans.

Despite his high prices, Mr Heurtault's Paris shop attracts clients from around the world - one Qatari princess went for an umbrella handle covered with shagreen, a type of leather, at a cost of more than 8,000 euros (S$13,700).

"Umbrellas have always been my passion," he said.

"They were my favourite toy when I was small. I was fascinated - which my mother found very strange!" he said, recalling how he used to take them apart, using parts from two to build a single umbrella.

Mr Heurtault set up his business only in 2008, but some of his tools are more than 100 years old.

The setting is also special, in one of the elegant 19th-century arches under a former railway viaduct.

"Here, everything is done by hand, which is unique," said Mr Heurtault, who also restores umbrellas and creates them for the film industry.

His business partner, Mr Jean-Yves Thibert, said Australians and Japanese are "gaga for parasols", while umbrellas have a following in the US and Europe, particularly in Austria and Germany.

The cheapest lady's item costs 250 euros and is made of silk, with a leather-covered handle.

For men, the cheapest is 490 euros, which buys an elegant gentleman's umbrella in silk twill with a maplewood handle. "You won't find that kind of finish anywhere else," said Mr Thibert.

Mr Heurtault despairs of what he sees as today's throwaway culture.

BUILT TO LAST

"Things are becoming cheaper and cheaper, they don't last, they break easily and are disposable. These umbrellas are made to last generations," he said.

"In the 1950s people didn't lose their umbrellas, they looked after them," he says. "Today a girl buys an umbrella for 10 euros, breaks it, and buys another for 10 euros. Of course it doesn't last."

At Heurtault, they do things differently. Clients can opt for bespoke umbrellas, choosing the handle, the fabric, the pattern and the wood.

"This is real luxury, it's not standardised," says Mr Thibert, showing off antique handles sourced all over France. One is made of ivory with insets of pearl.

Mr Heurtault began his career as a costumier and has worked for the opera and made corsets for Christian Dior.

BY THE NUMBERS

$13,700

How much one Qatari princess paid for an umbrella handle covered with shagreen, a type of leather

Get The New Paper for more stories.