Albore, The 3D Printed Lighting Brand You Need to Know

In Italian, albore means the first light of dawn, the perfect name for a lighting brand dedicated to bringing 3D printing and sustainable made-in-Italy design to the world. Albore founders Jacopo Mandarino and Mirko Maletta explain, “We chose this name because it conveys a clear and positive concept, like the beginning of a new day.” Read on to meet Albore, the 3D-printed lighting brand (and digital manufacturer) you need to know!

An Idea Brought to Life
After first encountering 3D printing while studying at the international design institute Raffles Milano, Albore founders Jacopo Mandarino and Mirko Maletta were immediately fascinated by the infinite possibilities of the technology. Upon graduating, the duo began to focus on the production opportunities 3D printing offered.
In 2021, as part of the ZM Design Lab collective, they created their first product, Puddy, a 100% sustainable 3D-printed table lamp. This experience led them to co-found Albore, a sustainable digital fabrication brand that offers 3D printing and hand-finished designer lamps.


Albore’s first design with ZM Design Lab, Puddy, in Smooth Red and in the making.
Today, Albore specializes in 3D-printed lighting designs, creating products on request using sustainable materials and then refining them by hand according to the needs of its customers.
The Craftmanship of 3D Printing
Combining modern, innovative techniques with craftsmanship, Albore’s lighting is both wonderfully unique and eco-friendly. The rapid production of 3D printing allows them to produce on-demand and completely tailor to each client. At the same time, the brand’s emphasis on craftsmanship, attention to detail, and careful selection of materials add a unique twist to its tech-made products.



The art of 3D printing | Detail of a wood filament, one of the sustainable materials used by Albore.
Albore uses a 3D printing technology called “FDM” or “Fused Deposition Modeling,” an additive process that builds objects layer by layer. In addition to being powerfully flexible, it is also much more sustainable than many other production methods. FDM reduces waste by about 90% compared to traditional manufacturing options. It also allows for on-demand production, eliminating the need for storage and the associated use of resources.
Green Materials, Clever Assembly & Careful Finishing
Albore sources its materials from renewable natural resources, which are all completely sustainable. The most commonly used is PLA, an innovative bioplastic derived from organic sources such as corn starch. The brand uses this filament to create its lamps in three different versions: Layer, Natural, and Smooth.
The Layer version uses colored filaments without added paints. The Natural uses a PLA that contains around 50% wood or stone powder sourced from scraps of other processes. And, the Smooth features printed parts that are hand-sanded and painted.

Each design undergoes a careful manual refining process to perfect the parts of the lamps. In particular, the parts which light passes through and the colored components. A clever glue-free interlocking system is then implemented by hand, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly. Then, ecco qua—a look-good, feel-good light to love.




Calice, Woodland, Drum & Svita 3D Printed Lamps by Albore
Not Just Lamps
While Albore clearly loves making lighting and is a 3D-printed lighting brand to know, they are also about much more than just lamps. As their name denotes, the brand wants to start a new day, to write a new story, to show it is possible to improve. By offering “simply made” sustainable lighting products, Albore masterfully showcases the advantages of 3D printing as an alternative production method while highlighting the importance of an understanding of craftsmanship when it comes to implementing technology in design.

Starting with inspirational sketches, moving through 3D modeling, then rapid prototyping, and going all the way to final production upon request, Albore brings sustainable design dreams to life. According to them, “One of our biggest challenges is giving a unique language to each of our creations. Form and function intertwine in an essential design that creates a strong physical and emotional interaction.”
All in all, Albore is a 3D printed lighting brand and digital fabricator you need to know!
Words by Anna Bimba
Photos Courtesy of Albore
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