As a long-time student and collector of umbrellas, Seattle's Jodell Egbert's vintage collections were the nucleus around which she began Bella Umbrella. Her venture is now the largest source of vintage and vintage-styled umbrellas in the world.

As a soon to be bride and floral designer in 1999, Jodell wanted to do something distinctive instead of renting a traditional white tent for her outdoor wedding ceremony. She procured 75 vintage umbrellas for her guests in the event there were showers on her wedding day. Each guest would be offered a beautiful umbrella from the 1920s-1940. Later, the umbrellas would create a brilliant backdrop to the happy day. It was the beginning of a beautiful marriage in more ways than one.

Continuing to collect umbrellas, Jodell launched the original  Bella Umbrella website in 2001. Her personal collection of 100 vintage umbrellas was now available for rent to brides all over the world. Since then Jodell has designed and developed two unique umbrella collections, Vintage Bella Umbrella and The Signature Bella Umbrella Pagoda, as well as inventing and patenting the Bixi, an adaptor that quickly converts the Signature Bella Umbrella Pagoda handle into a stunning bouquet holder.

As Jodell built her business, her appreciation of the history of umbrellas deepened to a keen interest in sustaining a dying craft. She met a kindred spirit in Gilbert Center, the legendary umbrella maven of New York. Gilbert Center has been making umbrellas for over sixty years and is warmly welcomed to the Bella Umbrella family. Today her company is dedicated to the artisan craft of making and restoring umbrellas and parasols and to reestablishing the finely made accessory as a fashion must-have for women of style and taste