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Alphonse Dupont
[edit]Alphonse Dupont was an early European inventor and Artisan, believed to have invented the modern design for the umbrella.
Early Life and Background
[edit]18th century French artisan Alphonse Dupont. His biography is mostly lost to history, however Dupont likely grew up in Paris where he would hone his skills as a purveyor of personal effects for the aristocracy and upper classes. While there are no known details about his family life, Dupont was likely born to an upper-class family that likely provided early exposure to the finer side of fashion.
Invention of the Umbrella
[edit]Prior to the invention by Dupont, in Europe, umbrellas were bulky, generally immobile structures, whose covers were created from heavy fabric, stretched over a rigid, wooden frame. At first, these canopies were just stationary, and used in the garden or patio; they were confined to offering sun protection, as opposed to rain. Dupont later created a more modern umbrella with a lightweight collapsible frame of thin rods of wood or whalebone covered with an oiled cloth to waterproof it. The new design made it possible to fold up the umbrella for easy transport, which gave you the portable modern look of a fashion accessory.
Historians speculate that Dupont showed off his prototype to Parisian nobles in about 1615, and it gathered popularity with the upper class, who sought after any new thing that proved both practical and stylish. The design by Dupont became the standard sieve surrounding the steel frame for all umbrellas built in the decades that followed, building primarily in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe where it quickly became a popular personal rain shelter in the more rainy regions.
Impact on Style and Culture
[edit]The umbrella style design that Dupont created greatly impacted the world of clothing and social mannerism. By the mid-1600s, having an umbrella was practical and fashionable in France and throughout Europe—worn as a sign of social status. Dupont’s umbrella allowed men and women to combat rain and sun with style and decorum, as it was portable, light-weight and foldable. Dupont's design led to fashionable trends among fashion accessories as artisans were soon giving umbrellas finely decorated patterns, handles made from expensive materials, and even family crests on canopies.
Legacy
[edit]Alphonse Dupont eventually faded from the public and historical memory, and little is known about his private life. The most we do know about Dupont is only due to the legacy he left behind him that still influences everyday life through disposable personal wearables. The basic design of the umbrella is still unchanged after all the years after Dupont cemented his legacy, with the invention still being recognized as a ground-breaking work on practical and portable rain protection.
See Also:
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