But I didn’t quite have an understanding yet of how to make it more profitable and what to do to expand faster. So I started working with various mentors and realized that if I could make a less expensive parasol, I could have greater appeal and grow my audience. I found new fabric printers and a bigger manufacturer who was not only capable of scaling, but making a parasol that I could sell at roughly half the price. Along the way, she dashed out some hand fans that are appearing to be quite popular for us, especially as gifts. After the print is finalised, it gets colour tested by the digital fabric printer. When the test fabric is approved and finally printed, the manufacturer takes it, cuts it into circles for the canopies, assembles the bamboo frames and then attaches the canopies to the top of the entire construction. A seamstress sews matching carrying cases for the parasols. My initial motivation for developing Lily-Lark was protecting my skin from aging, and holding onto a job in an ageist industry," says CEO and founder, Lisa Selwitz. "But over time, I heard too many stories about loved ones lost to melanoma way too young." The signature Lily-Lark is a hybrid construction, utilizing the beauty of the Asian bamboo frame, but married with contemporary fine art imagery. With the addition of the new line, the two collections offer a range of color and pattern to suit any fashionista who cares about her skin. Photo credit: Angelika Buettner

Timed just as sunny weather arrives, May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Even though skin cancer is the most frequently diagnosed form of cancer, many people remain unaware of the risk it poses. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. The good news: there's plenty of ways to be proactive and minimize the chances of developing skin cancer. Luna was examined by the vet team at PDSA and blood tests confirmed that she had eaten enough of the pollen to cause potential kidney failure, so needed urgent treatment. Relieved owner Emily said: “PDSA made such a huge difference – the care was great and the staff were so lovely. I would’ve done whatever it took to get Luna the care she needed, but it would’ve been a struggle financially, so this took a huge weight off my mind.” Lisa Selwitz: Getting into parasols was an organic path for me. I had long been protective of my skin, because I was a woman in an ageist industry. I always liked the idea of walking with an umbrella in the sun, but really nobody was doing it. One day, I was at a sculpture garden with my aunt, who was carrying this gorgeous bamboo parasol around the premises in the hot sun. I fell in love with the traditional Asian construction and took note of it. When I finally started seeing women in urban areas begin to carry umbrellas in the summer, I was inspired to create something better. I thought of my aunt’s parasol and the designer in me just took off.Selwitz is particularly excited about one new Lark print. "It was designed in collaboration with vintage fashion aficionada and Egyptologist Colleen Darnell, a.k.a. @vintage_egyptologist. Dr. Darnell has been a fan and friend of Lily-Lark's for many years. She suggested using art from ceiling patterns of tombs, circa the 1300's B.C.E., to create a print." The result is called WASET, named for the ancient city where the tombs are located. The artwork is by Stephan Jans, owner of the textile studio PRINTS OF ORANGE. Parasols (literally translated from its French and Italian roots as “defense against the sun”) are not a new thing, having been around for centuries in China, ancient Egypt and Assyria.

But I knew I had to get Luna the help she needed though, so I rang PDSA. They advised that I was eligible for their new reduced-cost service. They told me to bring her straight in, and it was such a relief to know that she would get the treatment she needed.” We wanted to share our story, on Small Business Saturday. Our hope is to someday be too big to celebrate it. In the words of our founder, this is how it all began and where we're heading: Now we have 2 lines of parasols and 16 new prints. Our hand fans are made in every print. My hope is to expand in the future by adding collections for different audiences. I’d like to do a children’s line, and a bridal line, maybe even a mother-daughter line. Among the newly debuting prints are a selection of neutrals, created with fashion flexibility and appeal to all genders in mind. Some prints are figurative, some are abstract… there's a Lily-Lark print for every stylish attitude. Larkis the culmination of an extensive design process to preserve the luxe Lily-Lark feel at an accessible price point. The result is a slightly pared-down, more minimalist parasol, which requires less labor to produce.

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We asked Selwitz about her passion and inspirations, as well as the challenges behind reviving an almost forgotten fashion accessory. The company began when Selwitz, anxious about getting older in an ageist industry, became passionate about skin protection. "I was still trying to protect my career as well as my skin, and to prevent my skin from premature aging, I had an idea for this fun parasol," she says. Utilizing her skills as a creative director, she founded a business where beauty of all ages is celebrated. Lily-Lark is deeply infused with Selwitz's love for art and design; she says, "when I see a piece of art that just hits me over the head as the perfect parasol to have over my head, I follow my instincts." Speaking on this new chapter for the company, Lily-Lark's founder, CEO and Creative Director Lisa Selwitz remarked: "With the launch of 18 new prints and a less expensive parasol, we aspire to make serious sun protection inviting to more people." Eventually, influencers were happy to share on their social media and the company started to grow. We began to get some great press.