MU
A slender stem opens into function, giving MU lightness and architectural balance.
Alessi MU cutlery by Toyo Ito, shaped in 18/10 stainless steel with a distinctive polished expression.
About the series
MU, considered for the table
The polished stainless steel accentuates the continuous transition from narrow stem to functional surface and gives the delicate profile a luminous finish.
Alessi treats everyday tableware as a meeting point between Italian industrial production, craft knowledge and the ideas of internationally recognised designers. The result is a broad design culture in which familiar household objects are reconsidered through proportion, material and expressive form.
Series guide
Questions about MU
What makes Alessi MU cutlery distinctive?
MU is defined by a thin, perfectly balanced handle that moves from a precise linear shaft into softer, more organic forms. The transition gives the cutlery a sense of lightness in the hand, while the hexagonal handle adds a subtle geometric identity.
Who designed Alessi MU cutlery?
MU was designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito. The collection translates the same interest in structure, movement and organic form found in his architecture into the much smaller scale of knife, fork and spoon.
What inspired Toyo Ito’s design for MU?
Ito wanted to bring the familiar sensation of using chopsticks into Western cutlery. The slender handles, balance and controlled movement create a lighter, more precise relationship between hand and utensil, giving MU a distinctly Japanese sensibility without imitating chopsticks literally.
Why is the MU handle shaped like a plant stem?
The handle is intentionally linear but not rigid. Its thin profile recalls the stem of a plant before opening into softer lines at the functional end. That tension between geometry and organic form gives MU much of its character.
What does the name MU mean?
MU means “hexagon” in Japanese, referring to the distinctive six-sided section of the handle. The form is created through a complex moulding process, turning a subtle structural detail into one of the collection’s most recognisable features.