The Alessi Factory is owned by the Alessi family, and they create and produce household appliances and utensils. They model their work after a variety of styles, but the key components are functionality and aesthetic.
From the 1990s-onward, Alessi products have become associated with the “designer” world. That means, they take ordinary products and tools and execute them at “high design”. Such as the Juicy Salif that created much controversy. Besides its odd shape, many questioned its’ functionality – many thought it was produced more as a design object rather than a functional tool to actually be used.
The firm began as a small workshop, and it was founded in 1921 by Giovanni Alessi. The company started with wooden or metal materials for general household objects. Alessi started with producing a wide range of tableware items in nickel, chromium and silver-plated brass. Over the years they have changed the materials they use to keep the products at a high quality but within a budget-friendly range.
The company also incorporates 100+ artists with over 200+ projects constantly in progress. The projects vary from revamping the older models to creating completely unique products; each unique to the artist(s) – much like Alessi himself.