Matjaž Rešek’s Inspiring Story: A Factory’s Closure Could Not Take Away His Love of Making Hats

You may wonder who still wears a hat these days. Yet many people still prefer one to a woolly bobble hat. And those are precisely the people who will find what they are looking for at his hat-making workshop in Škofja Loka.

Matjaž Rešek first encountered the craft at the renowned Šešir Škofja Loka hat factory, where he spent many years managing investment projects and maintenance. It was there that he learned every detail of how hats are made. When the factory went bankrupt and he lost his job at the end of 2016, circumstances prompted him to start making hats on his own.

From industry to craftsmanship

He bought a few essential machines from the failed factory, stocked up on the materials he needed and ventured into the unfamiliar world of running his own business.

It was difficult, he admits, and it still is. But fortune, as they say, favours the brave. In his case, his love of the craft and wholehearted dedication to his work and customers have undoubtedly contributed most to his success.

Workshop and Store in One

He welcomes customers directly into his hat-making workshop, just a short distance from the former factory where he worked for 20 years. Matjaž Rešek’s story is inspiring not only because of this former Šešir employee’s determination to continue doing what he loves, whatever the cost.

It is also remarkable because his work carries on and preserves a century-old hat-making tradition in the Škofja Loka area.

From classic hats to fashion pieces

His workshop produces hats for every head and every occasion. On a first visit in particular, it is impossible to stop admiring them: they are true works of art. Some are classic, black and elegant; others come in brighter colours, with ribbons around them.

On the top shelf, I spot a top hat like the one worn by the poet France Prešeren himself. A little further down is a hat of the kind our celebrated architect Jože Plečnik once wore on his walks through Ljubljana. On one of the stands, his latest “collection” also catches my eye: hats with small holes and slits for the warmer months.

Rešek also makes hats for the Slovenian army and police, for our beekeepers and hunters, and for everyone who appreciates handmade hats crafted from the finest materials. These hats will adorn and protect their new owners’ heads for many years. With proper care, a hat can even last its owner a lifetime.

Word of mouth

Hat-maker Matjaž Rešek always has his hands full, and enquiries are increasingly coming from abroad too—such is the reach of his good reputation. These days, when it seems that our entire lives unfold on social media, most of his customers still hear about him through recommendations from other satisfied customers.

The red one for me.

Slovenians have a close connection with hats

From urban gentlemen to Carniolan farmers, hats hold a prominent place in our cultural history. The earliest references date back to the enthronement ceremonies of the Dukes of Carinthia in the 11th and 13th centuries.

But what about today? Rešek and I both immediately think of the Slovenia’s folk-rock singer Vlado Kreslin, who has become something of a symbol of hat-wearing in Slovenia. Rešek also mentions actor and musician Nenad Tokalić Nešo, whose confidence on stage during singing performances is boosted by the handmade J.I.M. hats crafted by Rešek.

Tourists visiting Škofja Loka find him too, after hearing the story of a skilled local craftsman who makes beautiful headwear in his workshop—the kind they would struggle to find elsewhere. They can buy a hat there and take it home as a lasting reminder of Slovenia.

All the hats on display in his workshop are also available to buy.

Matjaž will help you find the right hat for you

So what would the master craftsman’s dream hat look like, and whose head would he put it on?
“I’m very happy when I manage to make a hat the way I think it should be, and the customer is happy with it. And when it isn’t entirely traditional, either—when it’s a little different and special,” Rešek replies.

I leave his basement workshop thinking that he could hardly have described his hats better, because every single one bears his personal stamp.

Address
J.I.M. Hats
Stara cesta 2
4220 Škofja Loka
Mobile: +386 51 345 642
Email: matjaz.resek@gmail.com

Opening Hours
Tuesday: 12:00–15:00
Wednesday: 10:00–13:00
Thursday: 14:00–19:00

Photos by Aleksandra Saša Prelesnik