Grete Jalk studied at the Design School for Women (1940–43) under cabinetmaker Karen Margrethe Conradsen. She finished at the Danish Design School in 1946, under additional tutelage from Kaare Klint at the Royal Academy's Furniture School. She took part in the annual competitions of the Design Museum and the Design School's furniture department, and from 1950-1960 would teach there as well. In 1953, Jalk opened her own design studio. There she started developing her own boldly curved bent-plywood models, inspired by Aalto and Eames' designs.