Born in 1957, Matthew Hilton studied at Portsmouth College of Art and then at Kingston Polytechnic. After graduating he worked for Capa as an industrial designer and model maker. He then set up his own design studio/workshop in 1984.

Matthew Hilton doesn't believe in design movements, and he really doesn't like the concept of design as a fashion. Rather, he thinks the design process is part of the evolution of any object through history. Designing with the end user in mind, and whether that means a household of ten or one, he takes pleasure in finding the fluid, easily adaptable solution to fit today's domestic spaces.

One of Britain’s most esteemed industrial designers and a Royal Designer for Industry, Matthew Hilton has over 30 years of experience in his field, designing for leading manufacturers. His furniture is held in the permanent collections of the Victoria & Albert Museum, and the Geffrye Museum, London.

Hilton creates rigorously functional products that improve with the mark of age. Thinking like a sculptor, Matthew Hilton considers every view of a product equally, allowing for a sense of delight and surprise over the years as the user discovers new details and complexities.

“If you live with something, you might pick it up and look at the bottom. So the bottom of it is equally important. Every aspect is important because it is something that is going to stay in your life,” Matthew Hilton.

De La Espada is industrial design with a warm heart, where luxury is expressed through tactile materials and obsessive detailing.

The dedicated factory in Northern Portugal specialises in intelligent solid wood furniture craft steeped in tradition and innovation.

Close partnerships with designers result in diverse yet aligned product families that are the building blocks for authentic interiors.

Premium materials imbue each product with a luxurious feel and outstanding performance. A leading modern woodworker, roots are in solid wood furniture manufacture. Highly skilled craftspeople combine noble materials, traditional joinery, handcraft and advanced technology to realise each design to the highest standard.