FOUNDER, CEO & CHIEF PRODUCT ARCHITECT

As leader of the pre-eminent shade company TUUCI®, Dougan Clarke has redefined and revolutionized traditional outdoor umbrellas. Clarke draws on his background as a craftsman in the luxury yachting industry to create high-performance, impeccably designed products. With an aim, says Clarke, “to complement the shade and ambiance that nature has provided,” every canopy is engineered with the finest marine-grade materials.

Growing up in Florida, Dougan Clarke lived and breathed the sea. As a young boy, he was either in or on the water, and apprenticed at a custom boat shop at age 15 to learn the trade. For the next 10 years, he was immersed in marine manufacturing and rigging boats. That first-hand experience, and his self-taught knowledge of nautical engineering, led him on a quest. His goal was simple and his mission clear: to build a better umbrella – and one that could withstand even Miami’s extreme weather.

Drawing on his experience as a custom boat rigger, he employed marine-grade materials to build a durable, easy-to-operate umbrella. In a major breakthrough, he designed a central hub system with a bracketed modular construction that allows for replaceable parts, creating the first umbrella with a lifetime of service. He then rigorously tested the design and materials to prove the umbrellas’ superior wind resistance. TUUCI®, an apt acronym for The Ultimate Umbrella Company Inc., was born, with every structure proudly bearing the “Made in Miami” moniker. The result: umbrellas built to the standards of a luxury racing yacht.

More than 20 years later, Clarke’s technical expertise and eye for innovation have earned the company 19 utility and design patents. Exceptional in function, his umbrellas are equally celebrated for their artful form. At home in any environment, TUUCI® is the ultimate in high-performance shade.