He partnered up with his brother and created the Fratelli Alessi Omegna (FAO), where they created household objects and craft tableware. By 1945, they changed their name to ALFRA, which was also when they started to mass-produce their items while continuing to focus on individual quality and design. In 1970, Alberto Alessi, grandson of Giovanni Alessi, joined the company. He had a vision of creating one of the “Factories of Italian Design” and set to work achieving that over the next 10 years. Indeed, by the beginning of the 1980s, the company delivered the “Tea & Coffee Piazza” project, which was done in partnership with Alessandro Mendini, who worked as a consultant for ALFRA. From thereon, Alessi became what it is today. The focus is on eclecticism, bringing together style, language and design. This is done for a great deal thanks to young designers who are employed at the Centro Study Alessi, the study centre that was opened in the beginning of the 1990s. Alessi will always be about beautiful Italian design.Alessi is a world-renowned brand with a rich and colourful history. It was originally founded in 1921 by Giovanni Alessi. He was a lathe turner and purchased land in Omegna, Italy.