umbra
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Umbra began in 1979, when long-standing friends Paul Rowan and Les Mandelbaum joined forces to create exciting, unconventional products for everyday use at home.
It all started with a window blind that Paul Rowan had made himself from paper and proudly showed to his childhood friend Les Mandelbaum. Both were thrilled, and Umbra (Latin for "shadow") was born.
Today, Umbra's award-winning design team comprises 30 women and men from around the world, joined by well-known designers for commissioned work. The team still works under the leadership of Paul Rowan, the heart and soul of the company. More than 650 people now work in Umbra's offices worldwide, and more than 25,000 retailers sell Umbra products in over 75 countries. Umbra is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
Umbra enjoyed great success in the mid-1990s with the products of a young designer who was barely known at the time: Karim Rashid. His drop-shaped "Garbo" waste paper bin (1996) and the "Oh Chair" (2000) each sold millions of units and helped Karim Rashid break through into the international design elite.
