The umbrella is one of the world’s oldest inventions. The first umbrellas were conceived about 4,000 years ago, in ancient Mesopotamia. The original parasols were created to keep out the dangerous rays of the sun, more so than to protect from rain; early umbrellas were crafted from palm leaves, papyrus, and peacock feathers. They were expensive, typically reserved only for the upper class, and often heavy and cumbersome. They eventually evolved into a fashion accessory, and then reverted to more of a utility tool in modern years, geared primarily toward rain protection.
While umbrellas have certainly evolved over the millennia, one thing has remained unfortunately constant: they’re always hand-held. If it’s raining, or if you’re in a bright tropical climate and want to avoid a sunburn, you’ve committed one hand to constantly holding your umbrella. For travelers, it’s an extra logistical nightmare – picture the perfect vacation in misty Hawaii or rainy London, trying to take pictures of your adventure while juggling a cumbersome umbrella. We’ve all been there.
So has Dr. Humeira S. Ahmed, a doctor of pharmacy living in northern California. Originally from Qatar, Dr. Ahmed has traveled the world, and has experienced every different type of climate. In 2017, she visited the Japanese Tea Garden in Portland, Oregon – one of the world’s rainiest cities. “The gardens are stunning,” she recalls. “The waterfalls, mountain views, and teahouse must be seen to be believed. The rain was coming down, I just had to get photos of everything, and – stop me if you have experienced this yourself – I couldn’t get the right angle for my pictures because I was trying to balance my umbrella at the same time. Who can’t relate to this?”
Any photographer will testify that sometimes rainy days are the best time for taking photographs, as the sunlight is gently diffused through the clouds. Dr. Ahmed looked through her photographs later, and remembered the struggle to take the perfect picture while wrestling her umbrella. “And just like that,” she says, “the idea for an elegant wearable umbrella holder sparked up like a light-bulb in my head.That’s when I decided to change the umbrella industry forever.”
That rain-drenched day in the gardens culminated in the launch of her company Huriia. Dr. Ahmed recruited a San Francisco engineer to put her vision into reality, and was soon able to design a wearable umbrella holder. Within a year and a half, she had a patent and was ready to embark upon small business ownership.
The name of her company: Huriia, which means “freedom” in Arabic. The Huriia wearable umbrella holder is indeed designed to set the traveler free – free to enjoy the world in all its beauty and wonder.
No one loves gadgets more than the frequent traveler; they’re always on the lookout for a chic, sleek design to make their lives easier. Travelers are also obsessed with documenting their incredible adventures – but some of the most beautiful places in the world are also the rainiest. As Dr. Ahmed experienced, it’s extremely difficult to take perfect pictures while balancing an umbrella. It’s either try to hold the umbrella between your neck and shoulder or ditch the umbrella altogether and get drenched – while putting your phone or camera at risk of water damage.
The answer is Huriia. This premium product is the first wearable umbrella holder, designed to set the traveler free and allow them to experience the wet and wonderful world.
The unique features of each of the world’s rainy locales draw in millions of travelers yearly, despite the downpour. Many travelers find themselves without the much-needed protection of an umbrella when they arrive at their destination, and so end up purchasing low-quality products upon their arrival. Not only are standard umbrellas bulky to juggle along with luggage, phones, and cameras, but these destination purchases are often cheap products that break, leak, and are often sold for astronomical costs at airports and tourist attractions.
With Huriia, tourists can purchase a travel-friendly, long-lasting, quality product, stay dry, and keep their hands free while they enjoy the sparkling waterfalls of Hilo or the historic grandeur of Germany.
The Huriia family of products includes the unique umbrella holder, UV umbrellas, and extra straps to allow a customized fit. The holders can accommodate any umbrella with a standard (10 mm) pole, but Huriia’s own premium lightweight umbrellas feature UV protection and are designed to work seamlessly with the Huriia holder. The hands-free holder is portable and lightweight, flexes and contracts to fit securely over the wearer’s body, and adjusts to the individual’s body with use. It has a non-slip rubber lining to keep it in place and comes with two lengths of optional straps for added security in the fit.
Standard umbrella design had gone mostly unchanged for years, and traditional umbrellas are bulky and hard to hold onto. Dr. Ahmed wanted to find a solution that looked effortless and stylish and solved this obvious problem while creating products of the highest quality. Travelers love gadgets, and the Huriia wearable umbrella holder will appeal to all those craving something innovative. It’s minimalist and elegant, and was born from a brilliant mind immersed in the love of travel.
Website: https://huriia.com/
Email: hey@huriia.com
