Price hike dampens Pathein parasol use

The price of Myanmar’s traditional handmade Pathein umbrellas has increased, resulting in a decline in buyers who use them for interior decoration.
Some guessed that the price increase was a result of the transport barrier.
“Price gets quite high recently. During Thingyan, some buyers just asked, but they wouldn’t buy due to the higher price. An umbrella was previously priced at just K8,000 per one. Now, we even have to buy at above K8,000, so we have to re-sell it at around K9,000, which is cost-effective for us. The price started going up in the second week of April. Due to the rising price, people are not eager to use Pathein umbrella for decoration,” said an official from Dudu Pathein umbrella trading in Mandalay.
However, Myanmar’s traditional handmade Pathein umbrellas gained popularity in the market in February, and the sales were pretty good.
Local products — wood, bamboo umbrella axle, Tharagu bamboo, persimmon, satin fabric and cloth — are used mainly to make an umbrella originally produced in Pathein. The whole process is made by hand, including dying and painting over the entire body.
Pathein umbrellas are made in different forms – monk or nun umbrellas, fancy umbrellas, rain umbrellas, royal umbrellas, table umbrellas, lamp umbrellas, hotel decoration umbrellas and beach umbrellas. — Thit Taw/ZS/ED