Allegra Tondato was born in Turin, Italy. She grew up in a modern glass house designed by her father, inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. After Design School in Milan and Fine Art School in Brussels. Allegra worked in New York in a contemporary art gallery and then as assistant to contemporary artist Donald Baechler. She moved to London in 1987 and began a career painting frescoes and making painted furniture.

Allegra married fellow designer Ashley Hicks in 1990. Allegra Hicks' first collection of rugs was launched in October 1995 at the Mordern Art Gallery in New York. Allegra has designed three collections for Christopher Farr, made by traditional weavers in Turkey.