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The beauty of the set table – The story of Hilke
Founder Giovanna Hilke
The creative spark that ignited Hilke
“I can't say I hit the wall in 2018, rather I ran straight through and landed in something else on the other side.”
Five minutes with Giovanna Hilke and you can't help but be swept up in her seemingly limitless energy. The conversation is witty, the humour sarcastic and the warmth genuine. This time we meet via video chat but close your eyes and it's not hard to imagine you are sat with a good friend, at home in the living room with a cup of tea in hand. Preferably in a colourful Hilke cup.
Her recounting of the events that led her decision in 2018 to focus solely on what energised her is like holding a mirror up to a generation of women trying to fit their lives and busy schedules into 24 limited, hours.
“I chose to focus on what I love the most and that was the Hilke Collection” says Giovanna.
Hilke didn’t start with a master plan—it began with curiosity and a spark of creativity. "I’ve always been creative," explains Giovanna, "I used to write poetry, paint, and love exploring new ideas”.
Swedish-Italian Giovanna was once a mechanical engineer but that all changed when she listed some candle holders, she had crafted from copper pipes, for sale on social media. The candle holders were an immediate success and what started as a hobby quickly grew into a business. Friends and strangers reached out, eager to buy her products.
"We drove around selling them, and I thought, 'How fun would it be to sell things I design?' That’s how the idea of an online store took shape."
The first collection was a mix of Giovanna's own designs and products from other brands, stored in a flat that quickly turned into a makeshift warehouse.
“As time went by, my interest in interior design grew. —I went to Formex at one point, I had never been there before, and after that I told my mum that I had to do interior design. And she said ‘well, quit your job then’ to which I replied that I had no plan and her response was ‘so what?’. So, I went straight home, quit my job and then went to my husband in our newly bought house and told him that I had quit.”
The turning point
Self-sufficient? Yes. Fearless? Yep, that's Giovanna. In 2015, Hilke Collection took a major leap forward and opened their first physical store. This was the platform Giavanna chose to launch the Hilke Collection that we know today. One of the earliest designs, the Alba candle holder, remains a beloved part of the collection. It was also during this period that Hilke’s signature emblem Anima Gemelia, meaning "soul mate" came into being, a deeply personal symbol inspired by Giovanna’s own emotional journey.
Ninfea Alta candlestick 35 cm, Brass
Ninfea No.1 candlestick, Brass
Ninfea grande candlestick, Brass
Ninfea Alta candlestick 30 cm, Brass
Hilke Collection tray 40.5x25.5 cm, White marble-solid brass
"Hilke is not just a brand, it's my way of expressing my life and my feelings. I have a love-hate relationship with our logo. I created it when I lost my dad and I was so angry that he never got to see what I built. Those who don't know only see a candlestick called Tuti, but that was my father's surname," says Giovanna and for a moment she stops. Suddenly the words no longer flow out of her.
"We have a Moomin collection now that is based on a story where the father is gone, he has disappeared. That story took a lot out of me. I was always chasing my dad's approval when he was alive, he worked a lot, and in the book, they're looking for the dad - and they do find him. But my father passed away. That's why we have Italian names for everything, because I want to stick to that part of my story," Giovanna says, and for a moment we both take a breath.
"Hilke is me," she says, smiling at the camera.
But Hilke Collection's path forward has not been without its challenges.
“It was chaos, we couldn’t keep up with the orders, and then one shipment arrived with defective products that we couldn’t sell. We sat day in and day out reassembling, polishing, and saving the products and somehow we made it through— it pushed us to switch factories and grow stronger."
A personal journey, reflected in every product
During the years 2011 - 2018, Giovanna and her husband welcomed three children and their own family constellation is an eternal source of inspiration - along with her Italian heritage.
“We are in Italy every year, I find inspiration from buildings, the forest, beaches, the environment. Autumn [in Sweden] is a particularly inspiring time. I love the forest, the smells, the crisp air, and the colours. It’s when I feel most creative." This connection to nature and the seasons is reflected in the brand’s evolving aesthetics, blending timeless elegance with seasonal nuances.
This deeply personal connection means that each piece from Hilke offers more than just design. You’re not just buying a candle holder—you’re buying the entire journey behind it, the thought, the care and the hands that crafted it.
Giovanna’s story is woven into Hilke’s DNA. "Lots of people assume I love being the centre of attention and that I was very popular, but growing up this was never the case, I was bullied and this forced me to go my own way. I've always been the kind of person who wants to do her own thing, and that's not very Swedish so it was tough when I was younger. In this way Hilke is not just a brand, it's my way of expressing my life and my feelings.”
The beauty of the set table
The love of community and shared meals is at the heart of Hilke.
“I'm a quarter Italian, I love cooking and hosting people. Our tagline revolves around ‘the beauty of a set table’ - it's all about creating community, making people feel loved and welcome. That's the Italian side of Hilke,” says Giovanna.
This philosophy permeates every product: the soft brass surface of the Amico vase, the elegant lines of the Tuti candleholder and the porcelain designed to bring people together. It's not just about function - it's about feeling.
“When you walk past a Hilke product, it should make you smile, because you know it's handmade with care.”
A glimpse into the future
Today, Hilke is run by a small but dynamic team of two, driven by passion and a vision for the future. Looking ahead, Giovanna sees Hilke continuing to grow, with a legacy that extends beyond her personal involvement.
“The company must be able to continue without me, to get further than I can take it. In 10 years? I know we’ll be bigger but exactly what that will look like—we’ll see.”
Elevated moments
Whether you're setting the table for a quiet dinner at home or a special gathering, Hilke Collection invites you to enhance every moment. The tableware, vases and candlesticks are more than just objects - they are companions in the creation of meaningful moments. A fitting description of a brand that strives to create products not just for today, but for life.
With every brass detail and carefully designed product, the Hilke Collection conveys the warmth of an Italian family dinner, inviting you to feel welcome and loved for who you are. Can you even describe it in three words?
“Oh, no, that's so hard. What do you think?” GIovanna asks me.
Suddenly the question seems difficult, but timeless, elegant and personal pops into my head. But when I hang up, after an hour of conversation, another word pops up: illuminating.
Photos: Elof Martinsson
