ALESSIA ALIZÉ explores 3D printing
- By Clodagh Norton
The Italian designer Alessia Alizé continues to push the boundaries of contemporary eyewear design. Rooted in a fascination with anarcho-punk and “an underground aesthetic”, her latest Limited Edition design marks a new chapter in the evolution of the collection. Produced using advanced 3D printing technology, the bio—based design embraces the creative freedom of additive manufacturing to achieve striking sculptural effects, radical textures, and a distinctive enveloping structure that would be difficult to realise through conventional production methods.
Q: You have just launched the new limited-edition frame, Venom. What is the concept and focus behind this innovative new product?
A: I asked myself how far I could push the possibilities of 3D printing. Venom is the result: a cyber-punk mask that wraps around the face and makes an immediate statement. This is where my design process always begins—not with a shape, but with the emotion I want people to feel the moment they put on the frame. The idea draws on the underground culture I grew up with and my desire to experiment with new materials and production techniques. For me, radical design should never come at the expense of comfort. Venom has a powerful visual presence, yet remains effortless to wear. Striking that balance was the greatest challenge and the aspect I value most. I chose to produce Venom as a limited edition for two reasons. First, the 3D-printing process demands time, precision and close attention to each individual frame, making it naturally unsuited to mass production. Second, Venom’s distinctive design was conceived to remain truly exclusive. Only fifty pieces have been created: 25 with grey gradient lenses and 25 with lenses fading from grey to green.
Q: What inspired you to create a design using 3D printing? Please also explain the innovative material you used.
A: 3D printing opened a door that traditional production methods simply cannot. It allowed me to conceive the mask as a fully three-dimensional surface, defined by spiky texture that you can touch. It also enabled me to create shapes that would be impossible to cut by hand, reduce production waste and manufacture small series with far greater precision. I chose PA11, a bio-based nylon largely derived from castor oil. It is lightweight, strong and flexible, exactly what was needed for an enveloping frame like this one. Then there is the flex hinge on the temples: the detail that transformed Venom from a sculptural object into something that can genuinely be worn all day.
The mask becomes a symbol of identity, transformation and visual presence. It challenges the conventions of traditional eyewear, combining innovative materials with a bold and uncompromising aesthetic. Venom is created for those who are not afraid to be seen…
Q: How does the model fit with your philosophy and radical approach to design, inspired by anarcho-punk?
A: Venom interprets the concept of the mask through a radical lens, and this is where it connects with anarcho-punk: a bold, contemporary wraparound silhouette that engages with the brand’s anarchic and inclusive aesthetic through a genderless language, free from conventional labels and expectations. The mask becomes a symbol of identity, transformation and visual presence. It challenges the conventions of traditional eyewear, combining innovative materials with a bold and uncompromising aesthetic. Venom is created for those who are not afraid to be seen.
Q: As a designer based in Florence, what have become your priorities in the making of the frames? Where are they produced, and can you describe the process behind the intricate detailing and innovative design features?
A: My priorities are materials, production processes and precision in every detail. Florence has taught me to respect craftsmanship without ever being constrained by it, while remaining open to experimentation. Venom is made in France and produced entirely using 3D-printing technology. This choice expresses a new concept of lightness and materiality, which I have also applied to the spiky 3D temples and barcode textures featured on the new acetate optical models in the Autumn/Winter 2026/27 collection. The new metal models are made in Japan and feature the ‘Moon Effect’ finish, which gives the surface an irregular, textured appearance reminiscent of lunar craters.
Q: In the current highly competitive market, what do you feel sets your collections apart?
A: I do not follow the rules of eyewear, I rewrite them, season after season, through innovative materials, advanced production processes and a deliberately unconventional aesthetic. It is this consistency, rather than any single collection, that sets the brand apart. Piercings, 3D textures and technical constructions are part of the design language from the very first sketch. Genderless design is not merely a statement; it is about breaking free from conventional labels and allowing people to express themselves through the frames they wear. For an optician, this means offering distinctive pieces with a strong identity capable of generating conversation in store.
Q: Where is your collection currently available, and how is your distribution expanding in Europe and internationally?
A: My aim is not to be everywhere, but to be represented by the right retailers: stores that understand how to communicate technological experimentation, material research and an underground aesthetic. In Europe, I am strengthening the brand’s presence in markets where independent eyewear has room to thrive. Internationally, I work with distributors and agents who share the same selective approach. I prefer to grow gradually, together with the right partners.
Q: What’s next in 2026?
A: 2026 begins with Venom. This will be followed by the presentation of ore new Autumn/Winter 2026/27 optical and sunglasses collection at SILMO Paris, where I will meet buyers and retailers face to face. I want them to be able to see and feel the frames in person. At the same time, I will continue exploring new materials, production techniques and collaborations, pursuing the same vision of radical, forward-thinking eyewear that challenges convention.
