Chapter 1
Foundations of Form
1920s-1940s
In 1921, deep in the quiet town of Omegna at the foot of the Italian Alps, Giovanni Alessi founded a small workshop with his brother. They called it Fratelli Alessi Omegna, or FAO. Their early pieces—crafted in brass, nickel silver, and copper—reflected the elegant influences of Austrian and English domestic objects, but were elevated by Giovanni’s unrelenting pursuit of perfection. Every detail mattered.
Chapter 2
From Artisan to Industry
1950s-1960s
The 1950s marked a decisive shift. Soft metals gave way to stainless steel—a material that mirrored the precision and optimism of postwar Italy. The Company rebranded as ALFRA and began supplying restaurants and hotels across Europe.
During this period, Ettore Alessi introduced a new generation of functional elegance. One key product was the 370 Citrus Basket by Ufficio Tecnico—a geometric, minimalist form that would define the Company’s early industrial aesthetic.
By the 1960s, Alessi expanded into homeware. The Ceselleria Alessi collection revived traditional silver forms in polished steel. A good example: the art. 870 cocktail shaker, introduced in the mid-60s, which remains a collector’s piece today. In 1964, Alessi won the Mercurio d’Oro Award, proving that even industrial goods could carry artistic character.
Chapter 3
The Design Factory Awakens
1970s-1980s
In 1970, Giovanni’s grandson Alberto Alessi joined the Company and brought a bold vision: that everyday objects could also be vessels for art, irony, and cultural commentary.
The defining moment came in 1983 with the Tea & Coffee Piazza project, a collection of architect-designed sets. Among the most famous: the tea set by Aldo Rossi, whose stark, monumental shapes referenced the formal language of architecture in micro scale.
These collaborations redefined the role of domestic products—and positioned Alessi as a Factory of Italian Design.
Chapter 4
Icons, Color, and Character
1990s–2000s
In the 1990s, the Company deepened its commitment to design as cultural exploration. To expand its creative vocabulary, it invited a new wave of external designers—some renowned, others just emerging—to challenge and reinterpret everyday objects.
Designers like Stefano Giovannoni and Guido Venturini introduced softer, more playful forms—seen in the scented Mary Biscuit container and the sculptural Firebird lighter.
While most of the industrial design world became more insular, Alessi remained radically open. “We still try to be a research workshop in the field of applied arts,” Alberto Alessi said. “But we are the last link in a long chain.”
Chapter 5
Radical, Ethical, Poetic
2010s–Today
In the 2010s, Alessi’s design language explored a tension between restraint and exuberance.
On the radical side: Marcel Wanders’ Dressed collection, with ornate flourishes that embraced history through decoration. On the ethical side: Naoto Fukasawa’s minimalist trays and pourers, which distilled function to its quietest form.
In the 2010s, Alessi’s design language explored a tension between restraint and exuberance.
On the radical side: Marcel Wanders’ Dressed collection, with ornate flourishes that embraced history through decoration. On the ethical side: Naoto Fukasawa’s minimalist trays and pourers, which distilled function to its quietest form.
Chapter 5
Everyday icons
Few companies can claim a catalog of icons as diverse and enduring as Alessi’s.
- Juicy Salif (1990) by Philippe Starck: a citrus squeezer turned modern sculpture.
- 9093 Kettle (1985) by Michael Graves: with its blue bird whistle, it transformed stovetop silence into song.
- Anna G. corkscrew by Mendini: both a character and a corkscrew.
- Plissé and Pulcina: two of the most talked-about design appliances of the 21st century.
Alessi remains a dream factory for many designers to this day. Giving joy to people, experimenting with good design, pushing the limits, and offering potential to transform any space into a museum.
Across generations and materials, it has remained committed to one mission: portraying the simplicity of everyday life as an endless source of richness, joy, and authenticity.
Did You Know?
Did you know?
Alessi Has Worked with Over 900 Designers
As of today, Alessi has collaborated with more than 900 designers, resulting in over 1,400 unique objects. They continue to operate like a design research lab, welcoming talent from architecture and art to reshape everyday culture.
Did you know?
The 9093 Kettle Whistles with a Birdsong
The playful 9093 kettle, designed by American architect Michael Graves in 1985. The kettle sings a cheerful bird-like whistle when the water boils. It was Graves’s first product design—and remains Alessi’s best-selling item ever.
Did you know?
Tea & Coffee Piazza Launched Alessi into Design History
In 1983, Alessi’s Tea & Coffee Piazza project invited eleven architects—like Aldo Rossi and Michael Graves—to reimagine tea and coffee sets as mini architectural landmarks. The result: 11 limited-edition silver services that firmly established Alessi as a dream factory at the forefront of modern design.
