LUCE was founded in 2023 inspired by Milena’s grandma, a grande dame of KaDeWe, Italian by choice, entrepreneur and style icon. A woman who cultivated the sweet life and cruised around Berlin with her Twingo, played Kanasta to Eros Ramazzotti with Milena and served the best Königsberg Meatball.
A short chat with LUCE
CC: Where did you grow up?
L: In the heart of Kreuzberg <3 — somewhere between Görli, Kotti and Schlesi.
CC: What about Berlin? How long have you been living there?
L: Basically forever. My grandmother lived in Tempelhof, my mother in Kreuzberg,
and my father used to squat apartments here back in the day.
CC: Can you describe your work in three words?
L: Collecting ideas, curating, taking photos of candles, communicating
with the manufacturers— and, most of the time, carrying candles from A to B.
CC: Do the food shapes of your pieces connect to the city?
L: Most of the shapes are rooted in Italy, where the manufacturers are based and where most of the designs originate. But whenever I design a candle myself, I want it to reflect Berlin traditions — like the Berliner (which we actually call Pfannkuchen). I also love weaving in elements of pop culture and lifestyle — it’s always fun to see how those influences can melt into a candle sculpture.
CC: How would you spend a day with friends visiting Berlin?
L: I’d start the day with a slightly boozy breakfast at my place before heading out for a walk through Kreuzberg. For lunch, we’d grab something tasty — maybe Börek at Leylak or pizza at Masaniello — then spend the afternoon exploring galleries and museums, and finish with some souvenir shopping at KaDeWe.
CC: And the night?
L: Dinner at one of the many amazing new restaurants that seem to pop up every week, then off to the theatre or the ballet — and afterwards dancing through the night (or getting lost in a bar somewhere).
CC: One last question — what are you addicted to these days?
L: Books, making my 10,000 steps a day and my besties <3<3
