we get asked this a lot. and the clue is in the name - sun-boli.

sunboli was intentionally designed for the sun, not the rain.

we created sunboli to reframe how we think about shade and sun protection. think about it: if the forecast says 30° and sunny all day, how likely are you to grab your rain umbrella before leaving the house? probably not very. yet those are the days when your sun exposure is at its highest.

sunboli is made for exactly those moments - hot, cloudless days when shade is hard to come by. whether it’s your daily commute, a long walk, outdoor events, travel, or simply moving through the city, sunboli is there when you can’t escape the heat.

while it may handle the occasional light shower, sunboli’s purpose is clear: portable shade for sun-soaked days.

we started sunboli because the planet is getting hotter, shade is becoming harder to find, and the way we design everyday products needs to change. fast. we believe shade is a human right, not a luxury, and that belief shapes every decision we make.

we design with purpose and restraint. that means choosing materials carefully, producing in small, considered runs, and avoiding overproduction wherever possible. our use of hemp - a durable, breathable, low-impact natural fibre - reflects our commitment to materials that work with the environment, not against it.

we’re also honest about the realities of making physical products. manufacturing has an impact. rather than pretending otherwise, we take responsibility by working with experienced partners, prioritising durability and repair, and supporting environmental restoration alongside production.

plastic-free packaging is part of that responsibility. every sunboli sold online is packed in a cardboard box, finished with a qr code label - so all your product information lives digitally, without unnecessary leaflet printing. inside, your umbrella is wrapped in tissue paper, protected with paper hex wrap, and sealed using water-activated paper tape. no plastic, no filler - just what’s needed, and nothing more.

through our shade for good mission, we donate 50% of profits from every sunboli sold to projects tackling the urban heat island crisis. our first partnership supports tree planting in schoolyards through Greening Australia, helping create cooler, healthier spaces for communities that need shade most.

we don’t claim to be perfect - but we are committed to doing better, step by step. sustainability, for us, is about long-term thinking, transparency, and impact that lasts beyond the product itself.

this is shade, done differently.

shade for good is our mission to help cool the planet - using shade.

at sunboli, we’re not just another product business. that’s not our style. from the beginning, we set out to build a business for good - a social enterprise that creates real-world impact alongside a useful, beautiful product.

for every sunboli sold, 50% of our profits are donated to fund projects that address the urban heat island crisis, with the long-term goal of supporting shade initiatives where they’re needed most - globally.

to kick things off, we’ve partnered with Greening Australia to support their cooling the schools initiative, planting trees in schoolyards across urban areas of sydney and melbourne that currently lack adequate natural shade.

the planet is getting hotter. this is why sunboli exists. shade is no longer a luxury - it’s a growing necessity. we believe shade is a human right.

this isn’t about maximising profit. it’s about leaving a positive impact that goes beyond what we sell. it’s part of who we are as founders, and part of what sunboli stands for.

shade that does more.

yes - if you’ve changed your mind or are unhappy with your order, you have 30 days from the date of purchase to request a return.

to be eligible for a return or exchange, your sunboli must be unused and unopened (not put up), and returned in its original condition. if the umbrella has been opened or used, we’re unable to accept it for return or exchange.

we do offer colour exchanges, provided the umbrella is unused and unopened.

if your order arrives damaged or faulty, this is covered separately under our warranty and australian consumer law.

for all returns or exchanges, please contact us at hello@sunboli.com and we’ll guide you through the next steps.

we ship worldwide.

depending on your location, your order may be subject to import duties or taxes, which are set by your local authorities. we recommend checking our shipping terms and conditions before purchasing, as these charges are the responsibility of the customer.

we’re also working on launching sunboli in the northern hemisphere, making it faster and easier to get your hands on a sunboli wherever you are in the world.

for updates on new stockists, markets and international launches, sign up to our newsletter.

uve is a measure of shade and how much sun protection it provides - in other words, how much harmful ultraviolet radiation is blocked before it reaches your skin.

it’s different to spf. spf measures protection once something is applied to the skin, like sunscreen. uve measures the protective performance of a material itself - which is what matters when you’re carrying shade.

our sunbolis offer +90% uve protection.

– the og sunboli provides 90% uve

– our coloured canopies offer slightly higher protection

this is because, quite simply, the darker the fabric, the stronger the uve protection.

according to ARPANSA, anything offering over 80% uve protection is considered effective. all sunboli umbrellas were independently tested to this standard - and yes, we have the certification to prove it.

portable shade, backed by science.

your brolli is built to last - and if something feels off, we’ve got you.

every sunboli umbrella comes with a 6-month limited manufacturer’s warranty from the date of purchase. this covers defects in materials or workmanship under normal use, such as issues with stitching, the frame mechanism, handle or canopy that are caused by a manufacturing fault.

if the damage is due to extreme weather, misuse or general wear and tear, it may not be covered by the warranty - but we still encourage you to reach out. wherever possible, we’ll look at repair options before replacement, because keeping products in use matters to us.

all cases are assessed individually, and your rights under australian consumer law still apply.

if something goes wrong, email hello@sunboli.com with your order details and a few photos, and we’ll help from there.

sunboli is designed to be durable, functional and beautiful - but it is a little different to a traditional umbrella. the canopy is made from hemp, a strong natural fibre that performs brilliantly in the sun, and like all natural materials, it benefits from mindful care.

everyday care

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  when not in use, store your sunboli in the carry bag provided to help prevent marks and scuffs
  
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  avoid placing it on dirty or abrasive surfaces where the canopy could pick up stains
  
• 
  sunboli is designed for calm, sunny conditions, not high winds or storms
  

cleaning & marks

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  if your canopy gets marked, make sure the stain is completely dry first
  
• 
  gently brush the area with a dry, soft brush
  
• 
  if needed, lightly spot clean with soap and water, then leave to air dry fully
  
• 
  avoid harsh detergents, scrubbing or machine washing the canopy
  

getting wet & storage

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  sunboli can handle light moisture, but always allow it to dry completely before storing
  
• 
  never store your umbrella while damp, as this can lead to mould or odour over time
  
• 
  store in a cool, dry place when not in use for long periods
  

carry bag care

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  the carry bag is machine washable
  
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  wash inside out on a cool setting and air dry
  

natural ageing

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  hemp is a living, natural fibre and may soften or gently age over time - this is normal and part of its character
  
• 
  darker colours naturally offer higher uve protection and may show wear differently than lighter tones
  

and if a mark won’t budge? embrace it. sunboli is made to be lived with. you can always get creative and add one of our iron-on or stitch-on badges - covering the mark while giving your brolli a uniquely personal touch.

care for it well, and your sunboli will care for you right back. 🌞

sunboli behaves differently to a traditional plastic umbrella - and that’s by design.

the canopy is made from tightly woven hemp, which filters the sun’s rays while still allowing air to pass through. this means you get shade without trapping heat, and a breeze can move through the canopy rather than fighting against it.

plastic umbrellas tend to create resistance in the wind, which is why they’re more likely to flip inside out or feel unstable - even in relatively gentle conditions. because sunboli allows airflow, there’s less pressure on the frame, reducing those awkward inside-out moments and lowering the risk of wind-related damage.

that said, sunboli is designed for hot, calm to lightly breezy conditions. like any umbrella, it isn’t intended for strong winds or stormy weather.

the result? shade that feels lighter, cooler, and far more comfortable to use on warm, breezy days.

the idea for sunboli came to life in 2023, when we realised there were no stylish or sustainable options for personal, portable shade. beach umbrellas dominate the market, but personal sun umbrellas had been largely overlooked. aside from traditional plastic rain umbrellas, there was very little designed specifically for sun protection - so we set out to change that.

after extensive research, testing and sampling, we chose to manufacture sunboli with a specialist umbrella maker based in china - where over 70% of the world’s umbrellas are made. this region has deep technical expertise in umbrella design, materials and construction, allowing us to produce a high-quality product while maintaining consistency and durability.

we also took care to work with a manufacturing partner that actively supports environmental responsibility.

our manufacturing partner contributes to ecosystem restoration projects in collaboration with Ant Forest and the China Green Foundation. one of these initiatives is located in Ordos City, a region affected by desertification.

through the planting of caragana shrubs, these projects help stabilise soil, reduce wind erosion and restore local ecosystems, creating healthier environments for wildlife and future generations.

this work complements other sustainability measures within the manufacturing process, including:

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  fsc-certified wood components
  
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  grs-certified recycled materials (where applicable)
  
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  water-saving digital printing technologies
  

we believe transparency matters. we manufacture where the expertise exists, and we choose partners who are taking meaningful steps towards better environmental outcomes - because every step counts.

because hemp is naturally brilliant at what sunboli is designed to do.

hemp is one of the strongest natural fibres, making it ideal for something that’s used, carried and exposed to the elements. unlike plastic-based fabrics, hemp is breathable, allowing heat and air to move through the canopy - so you get shade without that stuffy, trapped-heat feeling.

it also offers natural uv resistance, thanks to compounds in the fibre that help block harmful rays without relying on chemical coatings that can fade or degrade over time.

from an environmental perspective, hemp ticks a lot of boxes. it grows quickly, requires far less water than cotton, and can be cultivated with minimal chemicals. it’s also biodegradable at the end of its life.

for us, hemp isn’t a trend - it’s a material that aligns with our values and performs exactly how we need it to.

strong, breathable, naturally protective.

as part of our sustainability promise, we produce short runs of colourways to avoid unnecessary overproduction and waste. this approach allows us to be more considered with materials while keeping sunboli feeling fresh and intentional.

limited runs also mean every sunboli has a slightly more unique story. once a colour sells out, it won’t be restocked - it really is once they’re gone, they’re gone.

the og sunboli, however, is here to stay. made from our undyed, original hemp fabric, it’s clean, timeless and designed to work with everything. this is our core shade - and it’s not going anywhere.

if there’s a colour you’d love to see in a future drop, we’d genuinely love to hear from you. email us at hello@sunboli.com and sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know what colours are coming next.