Straw Hat Industry Decline and New Industrial Branches Development in Domžale Area 1918-1941

Abstract

The contribution explains the rapid industrialization of the Domžale area during the Wars due to which it vvas classified among the industrially developed parts of Slovenia in short time. During the last decades before the First World War Domžale and the neighbouring Mengeš were centres of straw hat industry, known ali over Europe; Tyrolese entrepreneurs had the leading role. After foundation of the Yugoslav state straw hat enterprises began to decline, whereas new factory plants developed parallely. During two decades between the World Wars about 30 plants with eight industrial branches with over 1800 employees developed which also caused great social changes.