Alessi - Marcel Wanders - Dinner set - ''Dressed En Plein Air'' - Wicker, Melamine & Thermoplastic Resin (PCTG)

The “Dressed En Plein Air '' is an exclusive picnic set designed by Marcel Wanders for Alessi in 2020. The set consists of a hand braided wicker picnic basket, 4 dining plates, 4 soup bowls, 4 spoons, 4 forks, 4 knives, 4 coffee spoons in melamine and 4 glasses in thermoplastic resin.

Marcel Wanders' talent for decoration led to the creation of “Dressed En Plein Air”. A set for outdoor or informal lunches, consisting of plates, serving elements, glasses and cutlery. Made with durable materials, "Dressed en plein air" is a collection aimed at the outdoor world, which answers the need to eliminate disposable plastic.

The table set and cutlery inside were designed by Marcel Wander. Traditionally, the rules would require that decoration be applied in the most important and most visible areas of the object. Wanders, on the other hand, applies it to secluded areas, a little out of sight, sometimes even in areas that aren’t normally visible at all, so much so that we could call it a sort of introverted decoration. In this way, even though he uses a language of signs that is very rich and complex, a bit flowery, a little baroque, Wanders manages to maintain a certain level of overall elegance and lightness.

This picnic set is like new and was never used before. Delivered with original packaging that is made up of the same decoration as the cutlery, and documents.

Alessi, a renowned Italian design brand founded in 1921, has become a symbol of cutting-edge design and innovative craftsmanship, especially in Postmodernism and Contemporary design as well as some Bauhaus objects. Over the decades, it has collaborated with iconic designers such as Alessandro Mendini, Aldo Rossi, Achille Castiglioni, Ettore Sottsass (a founder of the Memphis group), Michael Graves, Richard Sapper, Zaha Hadid, the Bouroullec brothers, Tom Kovac, Toyo Ito, Jean Nouvel, Ron Arad, and Gio Ponti. These collaborations have cemented Alessi's reputation for creating timeless, functional pieces that double as works of art. This marks Alessi’s spot in the design industry with brands like Cassina, Artemide/Danese Milano, and Knoll. which underlined the brands innovation, credibility and quality. The most celebrated design is Philippe Starck's Juicy Salif citrus squeezer, which almost became Alessi’s brand symbol in the minds of design lovers. Alessi's ability to work with groundbreaking figures in the design world echoes the timeless impact of designers like Arne Jacobsen, Eames, Verner Panton and Alvar Aalto whose minimalist approach shares a kinship with Alessi’s sleek designs. Similarly, Pierre Jeanneret, Le Corbusier and Jean Prouvé's dedication to functionalism aligns with Alessi's ethos of merging beauty and utility. This makes Alessi a brand with high impact and rich marriage with fundamental design DNA. More recently, a collaboration with Virgil Abloh's creative agency (famous for their Nike, Ikea art and Louis Vuitton design) infused a fresh, modern sensibility into Alessi’s offerings.

Marcel Wanders:
Marcel Wanders grew up in Boxtel, the Netherlands, and graduated from the School of the Arts Arnhem in 1988. Marcel Wanders’ fame started with his iconic Knotted Chair, which he produced for Droog Design in 1996. He is now designing for the biggest European design manufacturers like Flos, Vitra, Kartell, Droog Design and Moooi of which he is also art director and co-owner. Additionally, he works on architectural and interior design projects. Various designs of Marcel Wanders have been selected for the most important design exhibitions in the world. Coverage on Marcel has been published in all leading design magazines and newspapers.