PARAFERNALIA TODAY
Parafernalia was founded in Milan in the 1970s, in a period marked by intense creative and cultural energy. Established by Dario Polenghi, Cesare Lo Passo and Attilio Ferrari, it began as an avant-garde design store in the Brera district, quickly becoming a point of reference for artists, students and designers.
Its entry into the world of writing instruments came with the AL13 pen, designed by Sergio Carpani: an innovative aluminium object that marked the beginning of a distinctive journey. From that moment on, Parafernalia stood out for its radical approach to design, creating iconic products such as Revolution, now part of the collection of the MoMA in New York.
During the 1970s and 1980s, the brand became a symbol of experimentation, combining aesthetics and functionality in unconventional objects. In the following years, it expanded its range and developed important collaborations, including one with Pininfarina.
From the late 1990s, Parafernalia embarked on a return to its roots, rediscovering the value of artisanal production while preserving its identity under the banner of Made in Italy.
In 2024, Parafernalia entered a new phase in its history: the brand was acquired by Itapec S.r.l., which now manages its international distribution. At the same time, the collaboration with Antonio Raffaelli and Stefania Furlani continues, ensuring production continuity and preserving artisanal know-how, with manufacturing still entirely carried out in Milan, Italy.
What makes Parafernalia unique is not only the quality of its writing instruments, but its ability to combine aesthetics, functionality and research. Not simply pens, but design objects that tell a story of experimentation and passion, today as in the past.