Alessi: The Dream Factory of Italian Design

Founded in 1921 in Crusinallo, Omegna, Alessi has evolved from a small metalwork workshop into an icon of Italian design. Blending craftsmanship, innovation, and artistic collaboration, the brand has created some of the most recognisable tableware and household objects in the world. Read More

Giovanni Alessi’s early focus on handcrafted tableware laid the foundation for decades of design excellence. Under the creative leadership of his son Carlo in the 1930s, Alessi introduced timeless pieces like the Bombé tea and coffee service of 1945. In the 1970s, Alberto Alessi reimagined the company as a “dream factory,” collaborating with legendary designers including Richard Sapper, Ettore Sottsass, Michael Graves, and Philippe Starck. Iconic creations like the 9090 espresso maker, 9091 kettle, and the bestselling bird-whistle kettle became hallmarks of the brand.

Alessi also embraced experimental editorial projects, such as the Tea & Coffee Piazza (1983) and playful “Family Follows Fiction” pieces in the 1990s, producing design icons like the Anna G corkscrew and Juicy Salif citrus squeezer. In 2006, the company introduced three distinct product lines—Alessi, A di Alessi, and Officina Alessi—while expanding internationally with flagship stores, including one in SoHo, New York. Today, Alessi’s works are featured in museums such as MoMA, Centre Pompidou, and the Victoria and Albert Museum, cementing its status as a global design leader.