Alessi Biography
In 1921, Giovanni Alessi and his brother founded Fratelli Alessi Omegna - FAO, a company specialized in the processing of copper, brass and nickel silver, then nickel-plated, chrome-plated or silver-plated. In 1932, Giovanni's son Carlo Alessi joined the company and became the main designer, creating original and autonomous products. During the Second World War, the company produced war materials but, at the end of the conflict, it changed from an artisanal to an industrial activity. In the 1950s, the company abandoned soft metals for stainless steel and specialized in the production of objects for professional use. Carlo Alessi took over from his father at the helm of the company and in the 1960s a line of products for domestic use was introduced. In 1970 Alberto Alessi, the founder's nephew, joined the company and some innovative projects were born that combine functionality, art and poetry. After these first projects, it was the collaborations with Ettore Sottsass, Richard Sapper, Achille Castiglioni and Alessandro Mendini that contributed to transforming the company into the Design Factory. In the 90s, Alessi continued the search for new design languages and developed iconic products, such as the Firebird gas lighter by Guido Venturini or the Mary Biscuit biscuit jar by Stefano Giovannoni. In 2020, the company celebrates one hundred years of research in the field of applied arts, with an exhibition dedicated to the Salone del Mobile and twelve new projects.
