Parasol making started in Bagan when kings ruled this country almost 900 years ago." 35-year-old Min Naing explains as he shows me one of this beautiful creations, a Myanmarese parasol or htee. " Originally, royalty would use them while travilling on elephants as protection from the sun and rain, " he tells me, while common people used paper parasols , the aristocracy used more durable cotton items; these were decorated with exquisite designs and gems and produced by special craftsmen who ever lived in the country formerly known as Burma, and manager of Shwe Sar Parasol Work shop in Pathein, in Ayeyarwady state. Handmade [arasp;s have beem the [rode pf <yam,ar pfr cemturies. They have traditionally been used as form of currency. a status symbol and an invitation for marriage, in addition to keeping the weather off. Although htee are not as commonplace as they once were, the tradition of making them is still alive and thriving in Pathein. The Pathein htee is distinguished by its striking colours and beautiful, often floral designs. Shwe Sar is curently regarded as one of the country's best producers of parasols and earns money.