Kickstarter Pick of the Week is Vulcan Post’s weekly series where we share some of the most noteworthy and creative projects that pose to make positive improvements in our lives. Come across anything interesting on crowdfunding websites? Let us know at team@vulcanpost.com!

I loathe rainy days. Back in my school days, whenever it rains, I would use plastic bags to cover my arctic white shoes, carry an umbrella and wear a raincoat that’s twice my size. Despite this, I would still get wet from head to toe. One time, I even got a Charley horse because it was too cold. I’m not a fan of the thunderstorms, either.

The most dreadful (surprisingly) part was the umbrella. I remember using packets of tissue paper to wipe the raindrops off and having a tedious time folding it back (the folds of the umbrella have to be just right so that it doesn’t look messy and annoy anyone who has OCD).  It’s unstimulating, but you gotta do it – just like flossing. Of course, there are many smart solutions to this problem. But the thing is, I don’t think they can hold a candle to this Kickstarter project I’m about to introduce you to.

Not Just an Umbrella

Sa isn’t just an umbrella, it’s a statement piece. Inspired by Origami, it – to quote from the creators – is the umbrella reimagined. This is not your typical umbrella. Long gone are the “traditional skeleton and mesh umbrella structure”. With Sa, you’ll find cool and unorthodox features that’s going to leave you open-mouthed. To put it simply, it marries functionality and elegance perfectly.

It’s Collapsible (Well, Sort of)

That is, if Sa meets its stretch goal of $100,000. If all goes well, creators Justin Nagelberg & Matthew Waldman will be offering the compact version of the umbrella. According to its Kickstarter page, with this edition, it can be “compressed into one third of the original size, can be flat packed, and has a telescoping pole.”

I’m no expert, but I’m willing to bet that many of us prefer collapsible umbrellas. After all, they’re small and convenient. Sa is on its way to hitting its goal of $30,000 and considering there’re 48 more days to go, $100,000 is within the realms of possibility.

Colours

Sa comes in six attractive colours: Cyan, Yellow, Magenta, Black, Grey, and White. As the developers wanted to make certain that the umbrellas would be delivered on time, they decided to settle on these colours for their first models.

There’s no need to fret about the limited selection as Sa will eventually be made available in patterns and a variety of other colours. Nagelberg and Waldman have shared on their Kickstarter page that they will be expanding the lineup. Until then, we will have to continue to wait.

Also read: Kickstarter Pick Of The Week: Never Worry About Tricky Shoelaces Again With Zubits

I had a brief message exchange with Nagelberg on Kickstarter and he shares that Sa will offer some UV protection. It ultimately lies with the permeability of the materials used. Colour-wise, I love Black, as it reminds me of the space between the galaxies. Plus, it’s a known fact that black absorbs heat radiation much faster than other colours.

If you’d ask me, I think Cyan (or Smurf blue, as I’d like to call it) is going to be the hot favourite among the group. Why? Because it’s pleasing to the eyes and is the most popular colour worldwide. Moreover, it’s doesn’t clash with your OOTD (Outfit Of The Day).

It’s Environmentally Friendly

Environmentally friendly design products are making a comeback, big time! Sa is no exception. Every single part of the umbrella is made with highly recyclable and waterproof plastic. Likewise, this applies to the magnets and springs.

Ever since watching a life-changing documentary on environmental issues, I’ve been trying to stay as environmentally friendly as possible. I’m not perfect at it, but I like to think that I’m on my way. That being the case, it’s heartening to see that Sa is joining the green club, as well.

It Has Magnets

The creators were not kidding when they share that Sa is equipped with groundbreaking features — this is the first umbrella to use an internalized mechanism. Using Sa is as easy as falling off a log. To open, simply rotate the bottom of the handle. To close, all you need to do is pull on the handle. If you think about it, it works pretty much like a pinball machine.

Noticed anything different compared to a typical umbrella? There are no exposed slider components! The mechanism of the umbrella is completely internalised so that it looks sleek and modern.

Thanks to the embedded magnets along the perimeter of the panels, this allows for an effortless and tight closure of the umbrella. And you don’t have to worry about releasing the magnets one-by-one when you need to open the umbrella because the magnets will naturally be released as the outward force increases when you twist the handle. This is a no-brainer, the magnetic closure system is by far, the coolest feature of Sa.

True, I’m a bit bummed that there is no fully functional protype at this moment, but hey, what do I have to worry about?

Sa is in good hands (Fun fact: one of the creators even has his own Wikipedia page.) If you’d like to know more about the design process, or basically anything about the Kickstarter project, click this link here. If you’re looking for an umbrella that never goes out of style, let this be it.

Also read: Warning: The 3D Printer Crowdfunding Hype Isn’t All It Seems