Wpc.’s history is closely connected with WORLD PARTY, whose roots go back to an umbrella-processing business. WORLD PARTY states that it began operating under its current corporate name in 1985. 2

In 2004, the company launched its original brand “w.p.c”, initially focusing on women’s umbrellas. This marked the beginning of what would become Wpc.

The brand gradually expanded beyond umbrellas. Raincoats were introduced in 2010, followed by rain boots in 2011. In 2014, Wpc. introduced a unisex line, broadening its target audience.

In 2015, the company launched unnurella by Wpc., emphasizing high water repellency, while Wpc. for kids followed in 2016. In 2018, the master-brand name was formally changed from “W.p.c.” to “Wpc.”

By the 2020s, Wpc. had developed into a wider umbrella and weather-lifestyle ecosystem, with related brands such as Wpc. IZA, UVO, Wpc. Patterns, SiNCA by Wpc., W by Wpc., Wpc. classic, ONDOO by Wpc., and go-koh.

The name and philosophy of Wpc. are associated with “World Party Possibility Creation”—the idea of continuously creating new possibilities. The brand was established around the concept of breaking away from the conventional idea that an umbrella exists merely to protect someone from rain.

This philosophy can be summarized as:

Umbrellas are not merely weather-protection tools; they can be part of personal style.

That positioning is important to Wpc.’s identity. Instead of treating umbrellas as generic functional products, the brand emphasizes patterns, colors, silhouettes, collaborations, and seasonal collections.

WORLD PARTY describes Wpc. as a brand that aims to communicate an aesthetic appreciation of carrying an umbrella across different generations and fashion genres, while creating products that make people feel positive in both rainy and sunny weather. 3

One of Wpc.’s most distinctive characteristics is its attempt to turn the umbrella into a fashion item.

The company’s 20th-anniversary campaign in 2024 formalized this idea with the brand message:

“傘はファッションだ。” — “An umbrella is fashion.”

According to WORLD PARTY, the message represents Wpc.’s intention to move umbrellas beyond the category of ordinary daily necessities and establish them as items capable of expressing personality and fashion.

This approach can be seen in Wpc.’s product design: floral patterns, transparent umbrellas, colorful prints, compact folding umbrellas, and coordinated parasols are treated as part of an outfit rather than merely emergency rain equipment.

Although Wpc. is best known for umbrellas, its product range has expanded considerably.

Umbrellas

Umbrellas remain the core of the brand. Wpc. produces both folding and long umbrellas, with designs ranging from minimalist solid colors to highly decorative patterns.

Its collections include umbrellas designed around fashion trends, seasonal colors, prints, and collaborations.

Parasols

Wpc. also produces parasols and UV-protection umbrellas, reflecting the increasing importance of umbrellas as protection from sunlight rather than rain alone.

The company’s broader product lineup includes dedicated parasols and UV goods.

Rainwear

Wpc. expanded into rainwear with products such as raincoats and ponchos, helping the company move from an “umbrella brand” toward a broader weather-oriented lifestyle business.

UV and Everyday Goods

The brand ecosystem now includes various UV-protection and weather-related lifestyle products. The official Wpc. site categorizes its products into areas including umbrellas, parasols, UV goods, and rain goods.

Wpc.’s visual identity is strongly associated with:

• Colorful and playful patterns
• Floral and botanical motifs
• Japanese-inspired graphic design
• Fashion-oriented seasonal collections
• Compact and portable forms
• A combination of functionality and decorative design
• Designs aimed at making rainy days feel more enjoyable

This is particularly evident in Wpc. Patterns, a lifestyle/textile-design brand developed from Wpc.’s umbrella designs. It takes original patterns used on Wpc. rain goods and applies them to everyday products, extending the visual language beyond umbrellas.

Wpc. sits within a larger portfolio operated by WORLD PARTY. Some notable related brands include:

• Wpc. IZA — a men’s-oriented functional parasol/umbrella brand emphasizing protection from heat and sunlight.
• UVO — a high-performance parasol brand focused on strong UV and sunlight protection.
• Wpc. Patterns — a lifestyle/textile brand based on Wpc.’s original patterns.
• SiNCA by Wpc. — a sustainable umbrella brand using recycled materials.
• KiU — WORLD PARTY’s outdoor lifestyle brand, focused on enjoying outdoor activities regardless of weather.
• go-koh — a premium umbrella brand launched in 2025 using WORLD PARTY’s accumulated umbrella-making expertise and higher-end specifications.

Thus, Wpc. is best understood as the core fashion umbrella brand within a larger Japanese weather-and-lifestyle business, rather than as an isolated umbrella label.

Wpc.’s significance comes partly from its positioning within Japanese consumer culture. In Japan, umbrellas are a highly visible everyday accessory because rain is a regular part of life and people frequently carry umbrellas while commuting, shopping, and walking between stations.

Wpc. capitalized on this everyday visibility by asking a relatively simple question:

If an umbrella is something people carry so often, why shouldn’t it be fashionable?

The result is a brand positioned somewhere between fashion accessory, lifestyle product, and functional weather gear.

Its products have also appeared in Japanese fashion media, and the company has used fashion-oriented advertising and collaborations to reinforce this positioning.

2024 marked Wpc.’s 20th anniversary.

For the anniversary, the company introduced the “傘はファッションだ。” (“An umbrella is fashion.”) message and released advertising centered on the idea of styling umbrellas with different outfits and occasions. Actress Sara Minami appeared in the campaign, which presented umbrellas as part of everyday fashion rather than purely as rain protection. 1

This anniversary campaign is significant because it clearly articulated the direction Wpc. had been developing since its founding: changing how consumers perceive the umbrella itself.

Although Wpc. is a Japanese brand, WORLD PARTY has expanded outside Japan. The company established a Chinese joint venture in 2012, and its Chinese subsidiary was subsequently made a wholly owned subsidiary in 2021.

Wpc. has also conducted overseas promotional activities, including a pop-up shop in Hong Kong in 2019.

The brand therefore has an international presence while retaining a distinctly Japanese design identity.

WORLD PARTY Co., Ltd. is the company behind Wpc. Its business is centered on the planning, manufacturing, and wholesale distribution of rain goods.

As of the company’s January 2026 fiscal year, WORLD PARTY reported:

• Revenue: ¥13.269 billion
• Employees: 182
• Capital: ¥110 million
• President: Tomio Tomita
• Headquarters: Osaka, Japan

The company lists Wpc., KiU, and other weather/lifestyle brands within its portfolio.

One interesting corporate detail is that WORLD PARTY lists its founding as September 1985, while its current corporate establishment date is listed as December 2023. This reflects the company’s longer operating history and subsequent corporate restructuring. 4

As of 2026, Wpc. describes itself as a Japanese umbrella brand founded in 2004 with the slogan “creating new possibilities.” Its current positioning is increasingly centered on the idea that umbrellas can be fashion items, while its overall product ecosystem addresses both rainy and sunny weather.

The brand has also continued expanding its seasonal collections and related lifestyle products. For example, the official site announced a 2026 Autumn/Winter collection and continues to promote Wpc. Patterns, UV products, parasols, and rain goods.

In One Sentence

Wpc. is a Japanese fashion-oriented umbrella and weather-lifestyle brand founded in 2004 by WORLD PARTY, best known for transforming the ordinary umbrella from a purely functional rain accessory into a colorful, design-led fashion item.

Why Wpc. Is Distinctive

If you were describing Wpc. in a brand-analysis context, its identity could be reduced to four ideas:

Japanese origin + umbrella expertise + fashion design + everyday weather lifestyle.

That combination is what separates Wpc. from conventional umbrella manufacturers: it sells the idea of enjoying and styling the weather, rather than simply protecting yourself from it.

1. 南沙良さん出演の新TVCM『気まぐれな雨』篇が2024年4月1日(月)より全国放映開始！ | 株式会社ワールドパーティー Wpc.公式サイト｜WORLD PARTY Possibility Creation
2. Wpc. official website
3. 关于我们 – 日本Wpc.品牌官网
4. World party Possibirity Collection