Pepa by Astep: Light activated by a simple gesture

There are objects that accompany us in silence — so embedded in our daily lives that we barely notice them. Pieces that, without pretension, become part of the domestic landscape. That’s where Pepa begins: a portable lamp by Astep, designed by Francesco Faccin and inspired by the familiar gesture of twisting a pepper grinder. Only this time, it doesn’t season. It illuminates.

With a body of solid ash wood and a technological heart, Pepa is an object that invites closeness and curiosity. Its warm surface calls for touch; its mechanism invites interaction. There’s no button. The light is turned on with a smooth, intuitive 360° rotation that also allows for dimming. No visible wires, just a quiet fusion between form and function.

This apparent simplicity conceals a significant evolution: Pepa is the first portable lamp equipped with LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries, which are far more durable and responsible than conventional ones. Free of cobalt and conflict minerals, these batteries offer up to 300 hours of autonomy on a single charge and a lifespan ten times longer. Sustainability here is not just a concept, it’s a material decision.

Francesco Faccin applies his vision of design as a bridge between craft and industry. The result is a lamp that is repairable, accessible, and built to last. It can be easily disassembled by removing just four screws, making maintenance effortless. Pepa is also highly versatile. It moves naturally from the living room to the terrace, from the kitchen to the bedside table.

More than a luminaire, Pepa is a tactile and visual experience, a small gesture of light that activates memory, sustainability, and emotional design. Because sometimes, the simplest ideas are the ones that shine the brightest.