Growing up, Hillberg & Berk founder Rachel Mielke didn’t own a lot of fancy jewellery, but a spark of creativity led her to make her own, with affordable materials such as Swarovski crystals, freshwater pearls and sterling silver. With that, she made her first necklace, the start of what would later become a successful Regina, Saskatchewan-based business (with 11 locations across Canada).
Hillberg & Berk was named in honour of both her great-grandmother, Hilda Bergman, and her dog, Berkeley. She and her team have even designed jewels for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II!
[Kara Statement Earrings]
Mielke’s aim is to produce pieces “for women who want to feel beautiful and put-together, whether for special occasions or everyday life.”
The brand designs and produces the collection locally, using long-lasting elements including sterling silver and semiprecious gemstones; most of their scraps are remelted and forged into new components for upcoming pieces.
[Ostro Fayre Share Foundation, Myanmar]
Rachel has additionally funded several scholarships for women through her alma mater, the University of Regina, and she recently established a collective of jewellery makers in Myanmar, in an effort to give back jobs to local craftspeople.
[Sparkle Drop Earrings]
To date, Hillberg & Berk have donated over $2M in contributions to women’s empowerment initiatives and have partnered with both national and local organizations across Canada. In Metro Vancouver, community partners include BC Lions Felions Dance Team, Dress for Success Vancouver, North Shore Crisis Services Society and YWCA Metro Vancouver.
If you’re still looking for last-minute holiday gifts, these pretty pieces are worth considering!
10mm Sparkle Ball™ Stud Earrings
These are perfect for an intimate holiday dinner or when you feel like dressing up an outfit at work. Each earring contains hand-set crystals in a clay base with a Hillberg & Berk printed sterling silver cap.
I really like the design of the earring posts as some of the clunkier posts that come with plastic attached disks aren’t the most comfortable for long-term wear.
These rose gold sparkle earring are easy to pair with all my other rose gold accessories, and they also look great with the Sparkle Ball Necklace cluster mentioned below!
There’s over two dozen colour variations of these sparkly earrings available too, in four sizes: 6 mm (CAD $50), 8 mm (CAD $60), 10 mm (CAD $70), and 12 mm (CAD $80).
Shimmer Sparkle Ball™ Necklace Cluster
Purchasing this lovely necklace cluster helps to empower women in Myanmar via a partnership with the Ostro Fayre Share Foundation.
This worthy project aims to provide ethical and meaningful work for a Myanmarese women’s collective based in Mandalay, utilizing their talent to produce this very pretty piece of jewellery.
The necklace cluster contains a limited-edition sparkle ball in Shimmer (specially created for this partnership), together with Blue Lace agate and Swarovski beads on a 18” rose gold chain. Shimmer symbolizes feminine ingenuity and strength, ideally aligned to the Foundation’s goal. CAD $135
Each Hillberg & Berk piece is packed in a round, branded storage/gifting box with protective foam padding, a thank-you note from Rachel, and a jewellery care card. The Shimmer necklace cluster includes information on the Myanmar Project.
Hillberg & Berk offers free shipping on all online purchases over $50 within Canada and the US. Visit them online for details and to view the entire collection.
