Placeholder Content Image

$2,300 “useless” umbrella sparks outrage

<p dir="ltr">An umbrella created by two of the biggest names in fashion has gone viral online - but not for the reason you might expect.</p> <p dir="ltr">Chinese customers were surprised to discover that an upcoming collaboration between Adidas and Gucci includes an umbrella that isn’t designed to be waterproof despite costing 11,100 yuan ($AU 2314 or $NZ 2539).</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the <a href="https://www.gucci.com/uk/en_gb/pr/women/adidas-x-gucci/adidas-x-gucci-sun-umbrella-p-701872F12ZT4770" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gucci website</a>, the parasol does come with a disclaimer that reads: “This item is not waterproof and is meant for sun protection or decorative use”.</p> <p dir="ltr">As a result, the item has gone viral on Chinese social media platform Weibo, with a hashtag that translates to “the collaboration umbrella being sold for 11,100 yuan is not waterproof” being viewed 140 million times according to <em><a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-18/gucci-adidas-s-leaky-1-644-parasol-faces-backlash-in-china" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bloomberg</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em><a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-61503469" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a> </em>has also reported that people have responded with outrage, with one person calling it “a very big but useless fashion statement”.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8d805d5a-7fff-6996-e314-048b09d11a72"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“As long as I’m poor, they won’t be able to trick me into paying for this,” another person said.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">⚠️warning!🤣⛽️<br />☔️Umbrellas are not waterproof!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/adidasxGucci?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#adidasxGucci</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/adidasoriginals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@adidasoriginals</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/gucci?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gucci</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VirtualWorld?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VirtualWorld</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/REALITY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#REALITY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Blockchain?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Blockchain</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CryptocurrencyNews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CryptocurrencyNews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Metaverse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Metaverse</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFTCommunity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFTCommunity</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFTcollectibles?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFTcollectibles</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFTartist?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFTartist</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nftcollector?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nftcollector</a> <a href="https://t.co/xmudzHHxrW">pic.twitter.com/xmudzHHxrW</a></p> <p>— cubist👽🐼🧛‍♂️🧟‍♂️🧚‍♀️🤖 (@cubist_pg) <a href="https://twitter.com/cubist_pg/status/1525057625976877056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Others noted that the product may still be appealing to those who would use it as a fashion statement or to “show what they are worth”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Those who are willing to pay to use luxury goods to show what they are worth,” one user wrote. “They don’t care about practicality.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-4d0e0d0a-7fff-89d3-ce22-5e061ea46fa0"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">A Gucci spokesperson told Beijing-based magazine <em>Caijing </em>that the umbrella was “not recommended for use as an everyday umbrella”, adding that it had “good collector’s value and is suitable for use as a daily accessory”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I do relate to that umbrella. I am pricey and useless. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/adidasxGucci?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#adidasxGucci</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/umbrella?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#umbrella</a></p> <p>— Nishit Rangwala (@nishit_rangwala) <a href="https://twitter.com/nishit_rangwala/status/1527262762501480448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The item has been promoted online ahead of its release on June 7, as part of the two brands’ new shared collection.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-c22d24e5-7fff-a321-d536-95f479441dae"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Gucci</em></p>

Beauty & Style

Placeholder Content Image

3 umbrellas like you’ve never seen them before

<p>Just like <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="/lifestyle/at-home/2015/07/new-door-designs/">the humble door</a></span></strong>, the design of the umbrella seems to have remained stagnant for many a year. Now, call us crazy, but we’re ready for a shakeup of the rain-protection industry, so here are three unique umbrella reinventions that we’d love to give a trial run.</p> <p><strong>Nubrella</strong></p> <p><strong><img width="500" height="500" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7057/umb-nubreall_500x500.jpg" alt="Umb Nubreall" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></strong></p> <p>The idea behind the Nubrella is simple – not everyone has a free hand to hold an umbrella when they need to. While many young professionals who simply must carry their coffee and speak on the phone at the same time will love this, we’re thinking more of people in wheelchairs, stroller-pushing parents, and people who use walkers. While it’s not terribly fashion forward, it looks like it would get the job done.</p> <p><strong>Rain Shield</strong></p> <p><strong><img width="500" height="750" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7058/umb-shield_500x750.jpg" alt="Umb Shield" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></strong></p> <p>When there’s rain, there’s usually wind to go with it, meaning you’re sometimes pelted with water from more than one angle. Enter Rain Shield, which is designed to give you a larger surface area for maximum protection.</p> <p><strong>Air Umbrella</strong></p> <p><img width="499" height="570" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7059/umb-air_499x570.jpg" alt="Umb Air" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Now this one’s really out there, and stands way out from the rest of the pack. Ditching the fabric cover altogether, the Air Umbrella instead uses strong blasts of air to keep you dry. Definitely a great idea in crowded areas when using umbrellas can be tricky.</p> <p><em>Photo Source: Rain Shield, Air Umbrella and Nubrella</em></p> <p> </p>

Home & Garden