Originating from Italy, Lagostina was born in 1901 in Omegna. It is in that region located on the banks of the Orta lake – one of the large sub alpine lakes of northern Italy – that Carlo Lagostina and his son Emilio became the founding fathers of what has become the Lagostina “saga”.

Passionate about nature and in love with their birth region, the two men were visionaries.

Refusing to simply remain spectators in front of the industrial world opening before them, Emilio, under the impulse of his ambitious father, became an engineer.

Quickly, Lagostina became a renowned brand with an expertise in manufacturing tinplated cookware

From the beginning of the 30s, close to 30 000 pieces were manufactured daily.
The Lagostina family took time to develop and ensure business prosperity. Massimo Lagostina, the founder’s grandnephew, discovered the first stainless steel plate at the Milan Trade Show of 1929. He quickly understood the importance and interest of this work material for culinary arts. Massimo innovated and launched the first cookware made of stainless steel.

Pioneering and persistent, the Lagostina family didn’t stop there. In 1933, stainless steel pans came out, followed by a first collection, “Casa Mia”, in 1934. Success was unanimous and the line was exhibited at the MOMA in New York.
During this time, clients for stainless steel cookware were mostly communities, hospitals, ship liners, and major department stores (Rinascente). But also a few retailers, mostly in Piedmont and Lombardy.

The years 1956-1957 brought a fundamental change: time to stop manufacturing tinplated had come. A key step for Lagostina: manual manufacturing left way to mechanical process.
Inflexible, Lagostina continued to develop and launched “Thermoplan” the first thermo-diffuser bottom. This exclusive process ensures perfect heat conductibility all around the bottom of the cookware.
In 1960, the Lagostina pressure-cooker took front and centre stage: unique, it is equipped with a closing and opening system that is still owned by the brand: flexible handle and lid.

Lagostina also singles itself out with innovative and humoristic communication: Osvaldo Cavandoli’s line is a perfect example.
Famous designers reinforced the positioning of the brand through original creations: Carlo Mazzeri and the Moon Line® handles, the Thermoplan® bottom and kettle, and Pierre Cardin’s stackable cutlery from 1970. The collections’ diversity strongly marks this period. Innovation, modernity and tradition become the key words of this ambitious approach initiated by Lagostina.

Anxious to meet the most demanding expectations in cooking matters, the Italian brand adapts its production in accordance with the evolution of cooking trends:
• 1980: new function on the pressure-cooker: “steam cooking”

• 1986: conception of “Pastaoila”, a pot specifically designed to cook and drain pasta
• 2000: launch of the glamorous “Academy – Five Ply” line, which became as emblematic as “Casa Mia” in its days

Lagostina joined the other Groupe SEB brands in 2005, reinforcing the group’s expertise in high-end stainless cookware.
Thereafter, the brand’s positioning and identity are clearly redefined around these key elements: love of life, and a fair balance between tradition and modernity. The sensuality of shapes and quality of materials of the Lagostina lines illustrate, without any compromise, the art of living and cooking performance.

Lagostina has always maintained its “high-end” image thanks to local distribution.
Creative spirits, with strong personalities have made an extraordinary saga of Lagostina’s story. A passion for culinary arts and industrial craftsmanship, along with exemplary savoir-faire and success are the fundamental traits of this beautiful business.