Alessi: 100 years of functional art

Is a kitchen without an Alessi product a functional kitchen? Yes, but it is half the fun!

Even if you don't know the brand's history in detail, you've certainly heard about the iconic Juicy Salif citrus press in die-cast aluminium, a creation by Philippe Starck for Alessi. Or even the iconic kettle designed by Michael Graves, in 1985, recognized for imitating the singing of a bird.

One hundred years of history

When in 1921 Giovanni Alessi and his brother founded Fratelli Alessi Omegna - FAO, (later named Alessi), a brass, nickel and silver plate transformation workshop with a foundry, they certainly did not assume they were founding a company that would later have the current outlines, a hundred years later!

The company gradually abandoned the use of light metals in the 1950s, replacing them with stainless steel, and transforming artisanal production into industrial production. However, and although a successful business was established, the element of creativity was missing.

The big turning point came when Alberto Alessi, Giovanni's grandson, took the lead in 1970 with the dream of making art accessible and functional. So he developed a plan: to invite the most famous designers of the 20th century to collaborate with the brand.

And, thus, boosting the company's aesthetic quality and establishing a new direction, in order to make Alessi one of the most important design brands in Italy. Currently, Alessi is considered the Italian Design Factory.

An iconic celebration

To celebrate its centenary in the field of utilitarian arts and start a new century of experimentation, Alessi has prepared several surprises: launching 12 collections in 12 months.

Alessi 100 Values ​​Collection will feature editions of objects with unprecedented design, unpublished versions and redesigned iconic pieces. Every month, the brand brings to the public a value that sustains its identity, dedicating an unprecedented product to it.

The initiative started in May 2021 and ends in April 2022. It aims to honour not only the great artists who have been collaborating with the brand, but also to praise the values ​​that have shaped the company over the past 100 years.

Make the ordinary extraordinary

The celebrations start in a project dedicated to Industrial Crafts, with the re-edition of Twergi pieces, a collection initially conceived by Ettore Sottsass in the 1980s. Inspired by local wood manufacturing traditions, the artist's colourful iconic totems have become mundane objects like corkscrews and pepper mills.

It also includes articles by Bortolani Becchelli Associati that stand out for their elegance and minimalism; by Kuno Prey, who contributes an ethical and ecological approach, and by Andrea Branzi, who presents a different approach to the creative potential of turned wood with his ‘Ercolino’ corkscrew. With a view to establishing a relationship not only functional, but also psychological, symbolic and even poetic.

Each project was selected for its ability to represent one of the twelve values ​​that define the brand's DNA.

Alessi 100 Values ​​Collection comprises projects by Ettore Sottsass, Richard Sapper, Achille Castiglioni, Alessandro Mendini, Riccardo Dalisi, Aldo Rossi, Michael Graves, Philippe Starck, Andrea Branzi, Enzo Mari, Stefano Giovannoni, CSA – Susan Cohn, Kuno Prey, Bortolani Associati and Snøhetta.

«A true design work must move people, convey emotions, bring back memories, surprise, and go against common thinking», Alberto Alessi

Alessi 100 Values ​​Collection will delight all those who love design. A must-have range for any Alessi collector.
Discover some of these products at In & Out Cooking. Give your home a real piece of art!