Why Artevo Chose Blunt: Rethinking the Humble Umbrella
When caught out in the rain, the temptation to buy a cheap umbrella to avoid a thorough soaking is one I’ve succumbed to more times than I care to admit. The result is usually the same: it lasts only a handful of outings before its spokes begin to loosen, its once-perfect dome soon distorts, and complete structural failure follows within a few weeks. It’s a familiar story — short-term convenience followed by disappointment and waste.
For centuries, inventors have tried to improve the humble umbrella. In the early years of the 19th century in France alone, forty-one umbrella patents were filed. Yet despite all this effort, the basic problems remained.
A couple of hundred years later, industrial designer and BLUNT founder Greig Brebner put it simply: “I soon figured out why a better umbrella hadn’t been invented — it was really hard to do.”
Greig had long dreamed of creating a truly ground-breaking product: the very best of its kind, with genuine purpose and heart — something people would not only use, but value. The idea crystallised on the rainy streets of London, where crowded pavements became a sea of sharp-edged umbrellas. Navigating through them was awkward and unpleasant, punctuated by frequent pokes from pointed tips — or “brollies”, as many Brits call them.
After years of painful experimentation and relentless engineering, Greig arrived at a solution: an umbrella that didn’t jab passers-by, didn’t invert in the wind, and didn’t end up in a landfill after a few storms. In 2009, BLUNT was born.
Over the following decade, BLUNT established itself as a design icon in New Zealand and built a loyal international following in Australia, the UK, and beyond. More recently, a focused global marketing push led by co-founder Scott Kington has seen BLUNT recognised by publications including Condé Nast Traveller, The Guardian, and GQ as a top pick in their category.
The Wall Street Journal even described BLUNT umbrellas as sitting somewhere between “a suspension bridge and a NASA space probe” — praise that speaks volumes about their engineering ambition.
So what draws me to BLUNT beyond design accolades and durability?
First and foremost: repairability. If a BLUNT umbrella is damaged, it can be fixed. I have a deep aversion to throwing something away simply because a small but essential component has failed, while the rest of the product remains perfectly sound. A few years ago, I lost the cap from the foot of my Classic Black BLUNT. I stopped by the Newmarket office unannounced, and it was replaced with a smile — free of charge. For those further afield, BLUNT operates repair workshops around the world, and even offers spare parts for customers who prefer to make repairs themselves at home.
Equally important is BLUNT’s commitment to sustainability and ethical manufacturing. Since 2009, BLUNT has worked closely with its manufacturing partners in Xiamen, China — relationships that are regularly audited by Amfori BSCI, covering working conditions, fair pay, collective bargaining, health and safety, and environmental impact.
As a certified B Corp, BLUNT is also committed to continuous improvement: reducing its carbon footprint, refining its processes, and creating positive impact across every part of the business. These are not box-ticking exercises, but long-term commitments — the same standards Artevo applies when deciding which brands deserve a place in our collection.
And then there is the pleasure of using them. Thoughtful colours, clever detailing, and designs that manage to feel both practical and uplifting. BLUNT umbrellas are a reminder that even the most everyday objects can be beautifully resolved — built to last, built to be repaired, and built to be enjoyed.
That philosophy is exactly why BLUNT belongs at Artevo.
Browse Artevo's Blunt Umbrella collection here
