One hundred and 130 years ago, U Shwe Sar was the royal parasol maker, working in the Mandalay palace of Burma's King Thibaw. His creations were more than just shields against the harsh sun or rain. They were status symbols, used as centerpieces of special celebrations and as an ornament to welcome important guests. Only the royal family could use parasols made of cotton and each new htee fashioned by the master was revered as much for its art and craftsmanship as for its utility.
U Shwe Sar's world changed overnight when British forces marched into Mandalay in 1885. The king fled into exile and U Shwe Sar planned his escabe down the Irrawaddy River. By lying low during the day and floating reached the delta town of Pathein, over 700km away. With no income and a new wife and child to support , U Shwe Sar turned to making parasols in exchange for rice. The first parasol workshop in Pathein began in his small backyard.
Now Pathein is synonymous with the htee. U shwe Sar eventuslly padded on his trade secrets to his son, U Saw, who took over the business when his father passed on. With a love for teaching and a desire to ensure the tradition survived , U Saw also saw an opportunity for the poor of Pathein to learn a trade.
Says Ko Min Naing, his soft-spoken 40-year-old son, and now head of the family business, " I remember growing up, people would just show up at our house. My father would teach them put them to work, give them food and a salary. After years of learning from my father, some of thes people went out and started their own workshops."
Today the family-run Shwe Sar workshop is still the biggest in town and produces parasols for both the domestic and internation markest.The himble workshop attached to Ko Min Naing's family home is where many of the 25 employees live, cook,and socialise. In the large backuard,ducks waddle past parasols drying in the sun as workers cut bamboo for the next batch. At the other end of a long corrdor others sit cross-legged on mats elevated
U Shwe Sar's world changed overnight when British forces marched into Mandalay in 1885. The king fled into exile and U Shwe Sar planned his escabe down the Irrawaddy River. By lying low during the day and floating reached the delta town of Pathein, over 700km away. With no income and a new wife and child to support , U Shwe Sar turned to making parasols in exchange for rice. The first parasol workshop in Pathein began in his small backyard.
Now Pathein is synonymous with the htee. U shwe Sar eventuslly padded on his trade secrets to his son, U Saw, who took over the business when his father passed on. With a love for teaching and a desire to ensure the tradition survived , U Saw also saw an opportunity for the poor of Pathein to learn a trade.
Says Ko Min Naing, his soft-spoken 40-year-old son, and now head of the family business, " I remember growing up, people would just show up at our house. My father would teach them put them to work, give them food and a salary. After years of learning from my father, some of thes people went out and started their own workshops."
Today the family-run Shwe Sar workshop is still the biggest in town and produces parasols for both the domestic and internation markest.The himble workshop attached to Ko Min Naing's family home is where many of the 25 employees live, cook,and socialise. In the large backuard,ducks waddle past parasols drying in the sun as workers cut bamboo for the next batch. At the other end of a long corrdor others sit cross-legged on mats elevated