Alessi’s Alessandro M. corkscrew is a playful self-portrait of its creator, designer Alessandro Mendini. Mendini designed the corkscrew in 2003 as a partner for the immensely popular Anna G. corkscrew, which was released in the 1990s – the inspiration for that corkscrew was a friend of his.

Now Alessi has updated the beloved character both in terms of aesthetics and materials. Alessandro M.'s familiar features – the smiling face and a bowler hat – remain unchanged, but he now wears a completely new outfit. In the Parade version, Alessandro M. is dressed in festive, rainbow-coloured clothes made from chrome-plated zamak and a biocomposite that resembles traditional plastic but is more durable.