Monaco-based design house, hand-painted and made in Italy
Alamar Designs sells the moments that happen around tableware. Founded in Monaco by three cousins who grew up dreaming of making something together, the house creates hand-painted ceramics and embroidered Italian linens designed to do one thing: bring people to the table and keep them there a little longer. It is tableware with a sense of humour, a Mediterranean heart, and a belief that a shared meal is where the best memories are made.
The work
Alamar Designs is, at heart, a house of joyful craftsmanship. Its collections span hand-painted dinner and dessert plates, pasta bowls, cake stands, embroidered linen placemats and napkins, and a growing world of matcha rituals and playful extras. Each piece is produced with care and finished to a standard, placing it firmly in the world of considered design.
The ceramics are hand-painted in Bassano del Grappa, a region with a rich ceramic heritage, by artisans the founders sought out over many workshop visits until they found partners who shared their eye for detail. Because every piece is painted by hand, no two are exactly alike. What gives the collections their signature is wit: plates named “Another one bites the crust,” “Everything’s going to brie alright,” and “Don’t go bacon my heart.” These small phrases, discovered mid-meal, make a guest smile. It is this blend of genuine craft and lightness of touch that sets Alamar apart.
Monaco connection
For Alamar Designs, Monaco is both home and inspiration. The founders describe the Principality as a place that is incredibly international while feeling intimate, where people love to entertain, host beautiful gatherings, and celebrate life’s special moments. Exactly the spirit their tableware is made for. Designed in Monaco and handcrafted in Italy, the brand blends Mediterranean soul with refined craftsmanship.
Living by the Mediterranean shapes the look of everything they make. The colours, the light, the sea, and the relaxed yet elegant lifestyle of the coast all find their way into the palettes, which the founders build around a feeling rather. The Monaco community has embraced the brand since the beginning, and Alamar has become part of the Principality’s social life, from pop-ups and launch events to a memorable turn at the Festival des Étoilés, where the house created the plates used alongside Michelin-starred chefs. Monaco Art Excellence Guide exists to celebrate homegrown creative brands like this.
In conversation with Alice, Anna, and Ludovica, the founders of Alamar Designs
– How did Alamar Designs begin, and what was the first piece you ever made?
Alamar Designs: Alamar Designs began during Easter 2023, when our entire family gathered in Tuscany, Italy. There were around 40 of us sitting around one long table, sharing meals and spending time together. My twin sister, our cousin, and I have always been incredibly close. We grew up together, lived as neighbours, and have always dreamed of creating something together.
That trip made us realize how special it is when people come together around a table. We wanted to create something that could help foster those moments of connection, whether between family or friends. That is how the idea for Alamar was born.
We spent about a year and a half developing the brand before officially launching in December 2024. The very first pieces we created were our signature hand-painted dinner and dessert plates, which remain some of our most loved designs today.
– Was there a particular moment or meal that inspired the idea of designing tableware?
Alamar Designs: Absolutely. It was really that Easter trip in Tuscany. Every meal felt special, not because of what was on the table, but because of who was around it. We were spending hours talking, laughing, and sharing stories together.
It also reminded us of our childhood. The three of us were always hosting each other at home and pretending to organize dinners, coffee dates, and gatherings with imaginary food whenever our parents were away. Creating little moments around a table has always been something we loved doing together.
We realized that some of our favourite memories happen around a table, and yet tableware is often treated as something purely functional. Alamar was inspired by the idea that a table can be so much more than a place to eat. It can be where memories are made.
We wanted to create pieces that make people smile, spark conversation, and encourage them to gather more often.
– Your ceramics are hand-painted and made in Italy. How did you find your artisans, and what is that collaboration like?
Alamar Designs: Being Italian ourselves, it was very important for us to produce in Italy and preserve the craftsmanship that the country is known for. Our plates are produced in Bassano del Grappa, a region with a rich ceramic heritage.
We spent a lot of time searching for the right partners and visiting workshops until we found artisans who shared our vision and attention to detail.
Today, our relationship is very collaborative. Every piece is hand-painted, which means no two are exactly alike, and that is something we love. We work closely together to develop new collections while preserving the traditional techniques that make each piece feel special and authentic.
– What role does colour play in your work, and how do you choose your palettes?
Alamar Designs: Colour is at the heart of everything we do. We want our pieces to feel joyful, uplifting, and full of personality.
We draw inspiration from Mediterranean summers, Italian markets, fresh produce, travel, nature, and even fashion. We usually start with a feeling rather than a specific colour. We ask ourselves how we want a collection to make people feel, and then build the palette around that emotion.
– Your product names are wonderfully playful, like “Another one bites the crust.” Where does that sense of humour come from?
Alamar Designs: That sense of humour comes very naturally to us. We are three cousins who have grown up together, and we do not take ourselves too seriously. Food is meant to be fun, and we wanted our products to reflect that.
We love the idea that someone discovers a little phrase on a plate and it makes them smile.
It is those small unexpected details that create memorable experiences and make a table feel more personal.
– How does life in Monaco shape the look and feel of your designs?
Alamar Designs: Monaco is a unique place because it is incredibly international while still feeling very intimate. People here love to entertain, host beautiful gatherings, and celebrate life’s special moments.
Living by the Mediterranean also influences us a lot. The colours, the light, the sea, and the relaxed yet elegant lifestyle all find their way into our designs. We try to create pieces that feel both sophisticated and playful, which reflects the spirit of Monaco quite well.
– You host gatherings and events in the Principality. What does the Monaco community mean to the brand?
Alamar Designs: The Monaco community has been incredibly supportive since the beginning. As a small family business, seeing people embrace our products and attend our events has meant a lot to us.
We love being part of this community and creating opportunities for people to connect. One particularly meaningful moment for us was participating in the Festival des Étoilés in Monaco. We had the honour of creating the plates used throughout the event alongside renowned Michelin-starred chefs. Being included in such a prestigious event in a place we love so much was incredibly special and something we are very proud of.
Whether it is a pop-up, a launch event, or a private dinner, bringing people together remains at the heart of everything we do.
Alamar Designs Top Three Monaco Things
Sunset walks along Larvotto Beach.
Monte-Carlo Beach Club: an iconic place that perfectly captures the Mediterranean lifestyle we have.
The Monaco Grand Prix: where the atmosphere, excitement, and energy throughout the Principality are truly unmatched.
Discover more of the artists and makers shaping the Principality’s cultural life in the Monaco Art Excellence Guide.
Discover Alamar Designs: alamardesigns.com · Instagram