Alessi

And for decades, Alessi has collaborated with top designers like Ettore Sottsass, Richard Sapper, Michael Graves, and Philippe Starck. Throughout it all, though, their design factory ideals have remained. "It's not a question of craft versus industry, but of craft with the help of machines."

Why We Love Alessi Products

Everywhere you look in the product catalogue of this Italian design store, you'll find an icon of contemporary design. Alessi products speak to the time in which they were conceived, yet somehow also manage to remain timeless. The list of designers who have contributed to Alessi's legacy reads like a who's who of contemporary designers: Achille Castiglioni, Ettore Sottsass, Richard Sapper, Miriam Mirri, even Frank Gehry. The list goes on and on. Each of the products conceived by these design masters is a genuine piece of art: at turns colorful, sleek and cheeky.

Fun Facts About Alessi

"La cubica" was a cast aluminum box designed by Aldo Rossi in order to cook tomatoes into cubes. Due to technical challenges and manufacturing costs, only a few hundred were produced between 1991 to 2000. So where are we supposed to get square tomatoes now?

Noteworthy Products from Alessi

With so many iconic pieces, it's hard to narrow things down. But we think the ones that are the most identifiable include the space-age Juicy Salif (1990) citrus squeezer by Philippe Starck, the playfully chirping and post-modern Alessi Tea Kettle (1985) by Michael Graves, as well as the entire Anna G. collection (1994-today), all of the sweetly smiling pieces designed by perpetual Alessi favorite, Alessandro Mendini.