MyGlassStudio | Designers & Makers of Hospitality Tableware

Artisanal Engineering: Where Industry Meets Art in Hospitality Tableware

Hands-on artistry. Industrial precision. Hospitality-ready.
At MyGlassStudio, we practice artisanal engineering for hospitality – a philosophy where maker-led creativity meets industrial discipline. We design and manufacture hospitality tableware through a balance of manual precision and structured production systems, ensuring that every piece performs in real service environments. This is the discipline that separates artisanal glass tableware designers from studios that work from mood boards alone.
Our approach is rooted in material-led design. We begin with glass – understanding its behavior, tension, flow, and strength – and shape it with purpose. Every form reflects both craftsmanship and operational reliability. This is industrial precision craftsmanship guided by creative intent.
As a MyGlassStudio Boutique Factory and living R&D Lab, we thrive at the intersection of strategy, technology, and design. We develop bespoke manufacturing solutions for hotels, restaurants, and hospitality brands that demand more than standard catalog pieces. We build practical solutions for professionals – chefs, F&B leaders, designers, and operators who understand that tableware is not simply a food carrier, but part of the dining narrative.

A Short Story – Artisanal Roots, Global Vision

MyGlassStudio was founded in Greece in 1992 by Anna Papacharisi and Vasily Paschalis with just $5,000 in capital and a production capacity of four pieces per day. What began as a small creative workshop quickly grew through persistence, experimentation, and deep material knowledge. In the early years, the brand expanded through retail networks in Greece and Belgium before reaching international department stores.
A defining milestone came in 1998 with the opening of Hyatt Regency Casino Thessaloniki, followed by collaboration with Ritz-Carlton properties. By 2003, hospitality became the company’s primary focus. In 2015, production relocated to Sofia, Bulgaria, in a carefully managed transition completed with only two weeks of interruption.
In 2020, the launch of Bento Dinner Plates marked another breakthrough innovation. Today, MyGlassStudio remains founder-led, combining artisanal roots with industrial precision to serve hotels and restaurants worldwide.

Designed with Chefs. Built for Operations

At MyGlassStudio, our clients are not external buyers – they are part of the design team.
From the company’s early shift into hospitality in the early 2000s chefs and F&B leaders have actively influenced the evolution of our collections. Their input shapes form, proportion, durability, and functionality.
Through thousands of direct presentations and collaborations worldwide we learned that tableware must perform under pressure. It must move quickly through service, stack efficiently in storage, withstand thermal changes, and remain visually consistent across large openings.
This dialogue between kitchen and factory transformed MyGlassStudio into what we call a boutique factory and living R&D laboratory where creativity is tested against operational reality.
The result is hospitality tableware engineered for aesthetics, repeatability, service flow, and long-term reliability.

Why Glass – The Foundation of Material-Led Design

Glass is not just a material choice for us as artisanal glass tableware designers – it is a discipline. Our work is rooted in understanding how glass behaves, how it performs in hospitality, and how it can be engineered for both beauty and durability.

A unique material state. Glass exists in a non-crystalline “glassy state,” which allows fluid design possibilities while requiring technical control during production.

Precision through glass fusing. We use glass fusing – a technique with ancient origins and modern process control – to shape pieces with depth, texture, and structural consistency.

Controlled annealing for long-term stability. Because internal stress can lead to breakage over time, we use controlled annealing to relieve stress and improve structural reliability.

Engineered for thermal performance. We account for Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTA) and other physical properties to ensure stability in real service environments – from hot kitchens to chilled displays.

Surface tension and finish quality. Glass naturally creates smooth, refined surfaces, supporting hygiene, easy cleaning, and a premium tactile finish.

Strength through process discipline. Durability is not accidental. It comes from calibrated heating cycles, timing precision, and repeatable production standards.

Material-led design. Every shape begins with the behavior of glass itself – viscosity, flow, tension, and cooling curves guide our forms.

Handcrafted hospitality tableware and industrial reliability combined. We use manual precision with scalable processes so pieces are expressive, yet operationally dependable. As a glass dinnerware manufacturer for hotels and restaurants.

MyGlassStudio Timeline – From Art Studio to Global Hospitality Partner

1980s – The Foundation Years

Anna moves to Tournon, France, to study silver coating, engraving on glass, and Venetian mirror making. Vasily studies Art History and Philosophy in Boston, completing his Master’s degree in Byzantine glass.
During their time in the United States, they personally meet and work with pioneers of glass fusing, including James Francis Smith, Frank van der Ham, Richard Price, Hanneke Fokkelman, Veronique Monod, and Lutz Haufschild. These experiences shape their technical and artistic direction. They marry in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and spend four formative years traveling, attending seminars, and immersing themselves in glass culture.

1992 – The Beginning

At 26 years old, Anna and Vasily return to Thessaloniki and found MyGlassStudio. Production begins modestly – just four pieces per day – with deep artisanal roots and no external financing.

1993-2003 – Retail Expansion

The company expands internationally through department stores and retail networks in Greece, Belgium, Japan, and other countries. During this period: Launch of the innovative square plate. Development of the original wave plate. Participation in major fairs (Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, New York). Design awards recognition

1998 – First Major Hospitality Project

Opening of Hyatt Regency Casino Thessaloniki marks the company’s first major HoReCa milestone, followed by collaborations with Ritz-Carlton.

2003 – Strategic Shift to Hospitality

In a decisive move, MyGlassStudio transitions from retail to a HoReCa-focused business model within one year. This required: Rebuilding the customer network, Redesigning production systems, Repositioning marketing strategy, The company becomes known internationally in the hospitality sector.

2005-2010 – Preferred Supplier Status

Becomes preferred supplier to major international hotel groups including: Four Seasons (2005), Hilton Europe (2006), Marriott (2007), Fairmont (2010)

2009 – Product Expansion

Reaches approximately 1,200 SKU’s, supporting the evolving needs of rising global chefs and new plating movements.

2010-2017 – Crisis & Resilience

Survives Greece’s financial crisis and capital controls. In 2015, strategically relocates production to Sofia, Bulgaria – a move forecast years earlier – ensuring continuity and stability.

2020-2022 – Innovation During Crisis

Launches Bento Dinner Plates and three additional Covid-responsive products within two months of conception – maintaining operational continuity during global disruption.

Today

Today, MyGlassStudio remains founder-led, combining artisanal roots with industrial precision to serve hotels and restaurants worldwide.

MyGlassStudio  Founders – A Life Shaped by Glass

Anna Papacharisi – Co-Founder & Head of Sales

Anna Papacharisi co-founded MyGlassStudio in 1992. As one of the original artisanal glass tableware designers to work at industrial scale with glass fusing, she was driven by the belief that tableware could tell stories beyond function. What began as a small workshop producing four pieces per day evolved under her leadership into a globally recognized hospitality-focused brand. With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality market and 10 in retail, Anna became the vital bridge between production and sales, ensuring creative vision always aligned with operational delivery.
She has personally presented the company to more than 3,000 clients across over 60 countries, building a worldwide network counted in the thousand. Fluent in the language of F&B, she leads the sales team in international hotel openings and manages preferred supplier relationships with major chains such as Marriott, Four Seasons, Hilton, Kempinski and Accor. Her strength lies in communication, negotiation, and disciplined project follow-through, including a guaranteed four-week dispatch framework.
Educated in glass artistry in France and the United States, Anna combines artistic sensitivity with business resilience. She continues to shape MyGlassStudio’s global presence, ensuring that every collaboration reflects both craftsmanship and commercial clarity.

Vasily Paschalis – Co-Founder, Visionary & VP of Production, Marketing and R&D

Vasily Paschalis co-founded MyGlassStudio in 1992 and serves as its strategic and technical visionary. With a background in Art History from Boston University, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and advanced studies in Byzantine glass, he combines analytical thinking with deep material understanding. His mindset balances synthesis and precision – identifying market patterns while engineering systems that support growth.
As VP of Production, Marketing and R&D, Vasily designed and constructed the floor plans of four factories and oversees every stage of production – from raw materials to final packaging. He developed custom internal ERP software integrating sales and factory operations, enabling the company’s mass-customization model and rapid four-week delivery capability.
He has personally presented the company to more than 4,000 customers across 89 countries. Under his leadership, MyGlassStudio transitioned from retail to HoReCa, survived Greece’s financial crisis, relocated operations strategically, and launched innovations such as the Bento Dinner Plates during the Covid period.
Vasily’s philosophy unites creativity with disciplined execution – ensuring that artistry never compromises operational reliability.