Color Changing Umbrella

Make it rain color. This Color Changing Umbrella looks like a sleek black umbrella scattered with simple white raindrops — until the first drops of rain hit it. Then something wonderful happens: those white raindrops bloom into a full rainbow, each panel lighting up in its own vivid color, from red and orange through yellow, green, blue, and violet. When the rain stops and the canopy dries, the colors quietly fade back to white, ready to surprise everyone all over again the next time the sky opens up.

It's powered by special water-activated (hydrochromic) ink, so the effect happens on its own, every time, with no batteries or buttons — just weather. Under the magic it's a genuinely good umbrella: a compact, folding frame with a lightweight aluminum shaft, flexible fibreglass ribs, and a waterproof canopy, all packing down small enough to live in a bag or desk drawer. It's the rare umbrella you'll actually hope it rains for — and a joyful gift for anyone who could use a little more color on a grey day.

Features:

• Water-activated color change: white raindrops turn full rainbow when wet, then fade back as it dries
• Powered by special hydrochromic ink — no batteries, works every time it rains
• Compact, folding design — packs down small for bag, backpack, or desk
• Lightweight aluminum shaft with flexible fibreglass ribs
• Waterproof woven polyester (pongee) canopy
• Soft-grip handle and wrist strap
• Comes with a matching slip-on carry sleeve
• Approx. 100 cm (39 in) canopy diameter when open
• Designed by SUCK UK (in partnership with Squid London)

How It Works

The raindrop shapes on the canopy are printed with a layer of special hydrochromic ink — a pigment that's opaque white when dry but turns clear when it gets wet. Underneath that white layer sits a hidden band of rainbow color. So when the canopy is dry, all you see is the white ink and the drops look plain white. The moment rain (or any water) soaks the surface, the white ink turns transparent and the colors beneath shine through — the whole umbrella bursts into a rainbow. As it dries out, the ink turns opaque white again and the colors disappear. It's completely reversible and happens every time, because the ink is simply switching between opaque and clear, not being used up.

The Science Behind It

• Hydrochromism: how water-triggered pigments switch between opaque and transparent (a cousin of the heat-triggered thermochromism in color-change mugs)
• Reversible change: why the effect repeats indefinitely instead of wearing out
• The visible spectrum: a great everyday prompt to talk about rainbows and how we see color
• Materials science: how special inks are engineered to react to their environment

Perfect For:

• A fun, memorable gift for just about anyone
• Kids and adults who love rainbows, color, and a bit of everyday magic
• Brightening up commutes, school runs, and grey rainy days
• Science-minded gift-givers (a real-world demo of water-activated ink)
• Birthdays, holidays, and "just because" surprises

Care & Use

• The color change is automatic — just let rain or water hit the canopy; it fades back as it dries.
• Let the umbrella dry fully before folding it away to protect the canopy and frame.
• Wipe clean; avoid harsh scrubbing on the printed area.
• Like any umbrella, open away from faces and don't use as a toy — the tip and ribs are not playthings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does it change color? The raindrop pattern is printed with special water-activated (hydrochromic) ink. It's white when dry, and turns clear when wet — revealing rainbow colors underneath. As it dries, it goes back to white.

Does the effect wear out over time? No — it's a reversible reaction that works every time the umbrella gets wet, because the ink is switching states rather than being consumed.

Is it a full-size umbrella? It opens to about 100 cm (39 in) across — a standard, usable size — but folds down compact so it's easy to carry.

Does it need batteries? None at all. The only thing that powers the color change is water.

Will it change color from any water, or just rain? Any water will do it — rain, a splash, or a spray bottle all reveal the colors, which makes it a fun one to demonstrate indoors too.

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

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