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Mora-Igra Umbrellas is the one firm in Australia that continues to supply handmade umbrellas, and the proprietor of this one-person enterprise is Alicia Mora-Hyde who makes, distributes and promotes custom-made umbrellas from her manufacturing facility in Brisbane.
Alicia Mora-Hyde (R) within the umbrella manufacturing facility. Credit score: Alicia Mora-Hyde
Ms Mora-Hyde stated she may by no means think about retiring.
“No, not in 1,000,000 years. The long run is at all times there … one has to search for it. When you encounter adverse issues, it’s important to attempt to search for the optimistic issues, as a result of there are at all times positives in life,” she stated.
Chilean Australian Alicia Mora-Hyde with one among her custom-made umbrellas. Credit score: Alicia Mora-Hyde
Shopping for Igra Co.
However, in accordance with Ms Mora-Hyde, by the Eighties, the demand for crafted umbrellas declined and because the provide of cheaper, mass-produced umbrellas from abroad elevated, native firms like Igra Co. turned much less aggressive and had been pressured to shut or evolve.
A few of the umbrella handles used to make Mora-Igra umbrellas. Credit score: Alicia Mora-Hyde
When Mr Igra determined to retire within the Nineteen Nineties as a result of he was “drained and the umbrellas not offered as simply as earlier than”, neither of his kids or different family members had been concerned about taking over the corporate, Ms Mora-Hyde stated.
Ms Mora-Hyde with one among her custom-made solar umbrellas. Credit score: Alicia Mora-Hyde
However earlier than closing the enterprise for good, he supplied it to her.
“I saved the title ‘Igra’ … as a result of Igra was a grasp of umbrellas, he had a present … this man was magical, he did unimaginable issues … he was an artist as a painter and an artist as an umbrella maker,” she stated.
He was a person of many skills. He introduced European design concepts (to Australia) and have become a tycoon.
Alicia Mora-Hyde
The resistance towards globalisation
At the moment, Ms Mora-Hyde is the corporate’s solely employees member working from her Brisbane manufacturing facility the place she makes use of the identical machines utilised within the Fifties.
A few of the Mora-Igra umbrellas. Credit score: Alicia Mora-Hyde
“Initially, I work with classic European designs and frames which are higher and stronger (than at present’s frames). Frames which are British, referred to as Fox … (these frames) are one of the best classic frames. I nonetheless have a number of left,” she stated.
Alicia Mora-Hyde is the one employees member of the umbrella firm. Credit score: Alicia Mora-Hyde
Humble beginnings in rural Chile
When that association ended, she stayed with an acquaintance in the identical metropolis, sleeping on the ground, learning through the day and dealing within the afternoon for a number of years.
A few of the umbrellas made by Alicia Mora-Hyde. Credit score: Alicia Mora-Hyde
Her experiences taught her that life was about effort and work, in order that when she arrived in Australia in 1971 at age 29, she knew to not take something without any consideration, she stated.
She stated she nonetheless mourns the passing of the one man she cherished, however discovered consolation in realizing that the 15 years they spent collectively had been probably the most enriching and happiest of her life.
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