An umbrella mainly consists of ribs and fabric. The manufacturing process includes cutting the fabric, sewing it together, assembling the canopy, toe, and tail. Assembly tools primarily consist of rivets and needles and thread. With improvements in umbrella-making tools, the process has become simpler. Where rivets used to be hammered in with chisels and hammers, now a pair of special pliers can easily install or remove them from the ribs. Large sewing shears and modern sewing machines are used for cutting and sewing the fabric, respectively.
The umbrella canopy is typically composed of eight or ten pieces of fabric. The fabric is cut according to a pattern, with specific requirements such as matching patterns, stripes, and designs, and ensuring each piece is the same size. The cut fabric is hemmed and then sewn together in pairs to form the canopy. Beads are sewn along the edges of the canopy, and holes are made at the tips and secured with needle and thread. The finished canopy is then fitted onto the ribs, beads are inserted into the ends of the ribs, and the canopy is secured to the ribs with needle and thread. Only handmade umbrellas have knots tied during the process of securing the canopy, making them less susceptible to damage from the wind. After completion, the umbrella is rolled up and fastened with snaps, Velcro, or similar fasteners.