Alessi — Plissé MDL12 B | Black De Lucchi insulated carafe

There is something sartorial about the way Plissé retains heat. The black thermoplastic resin surface is articulated in regular vertical pleats - a plissé, to be precise, like those of a fine fabric - transforming an everyday gesture such as pouring coffee or tea into a small aesthetic ritual. The double-walled thermal glass protects the drink from the passage of time, while the form rises with a discreet and elegant verticality, standing thirty-two centimetres tall and perfectly proportioned to sit at the centre of a carefully set table. Michele De Lucchi, one of the most influential architects and designers on the Italian and international scene, lends his signature to this piece with his customary ability to find beauty in functionality. De Lucchi has worked across decades of design - from radical Memphis to Olivetti's golden years, and through collaborations with the greatest made-in-Italy brands - always bringing a sensitivity to materials and detail that is translated here into an apparently simple object, but one constructed with profound formal intelligence. Plissé was created as part of Alessi's spring/summer collection, designed to accompany the table during its brightest season. At Stilmobili, we chose Plissé because it perfectly embodies that vision in which design and everyday life meet seamlessly. It is the right piece for those who furnish their kitchen or dining room with the same rigor with which they choose an outfit: nothing superfluous, everything in its place. Ideal as a housewarming gift or for completing a distinctive coffee corner. Project notes: capacity 100 cl, dimensions 20 × 11 × 32 cm, black thermoplastic resin with double-walled internal thermal glass. Alessi code MDL12 B.