Headwear is one of the oldest forms of clothing culture. In addition to its protective function, it has, since time immemorial, served to express social status, affiliation, occupation, beliefs, personal style and aesthetic ideals. As multifaceted objects, they combine practicality, symbolism and artistic creativity, and tell stories about people and the times in which they were created.
As part of Fashion Month at the Museum – FASHION ON YOUR HEAD The Maribor Regional Museum is presenting four interlinked exhibitions that shed light on the subject from various perspectives – ranging from historical heritage and museum collections to contemporary design and the creativity of young artists.
The exhibitions are on display at the Maribor Regional Museum until 1 September 2026.
In the world of headwear
The main exhibition showcases headwear from the Maribor Regional Museum’s collection of clothing culture. It is divided into six thematic sections, which guide visitors through the various roles headwear has played over time. The objects on display reveal how headwear transcends its material nature to become a vehicle for identity, social significance, rituals, fashion and artistic expression.
Stories about hats
The exhibition brings together a selection of headwear from Slovenian museums and, through individual artefacts, tells their unique stories. At the same time, it highlights the importance of collaboration between museums in researching, preserving and showcasing cultural heritage.
The exhibition features the Ptuj-Ormož Regional Museum, the Maribor Museum of National Liberation, the Celje Regional Museum, the Celje Museum of Recent History, the Škofja Loka Museum, the Slovenian Armed Forces Museum, the Ljubljana City Museum and the Pomurje Museum in Murska Sobota.
A Touch of Elegance
The exhibition showcases contemporary creativity in the field of headwear design, where the protective function of headwear is intertwined with aesthetic and artistic expression. On display are works by four Slovenian designers – Ana Lazovski, Špela Strašek (Boho Headwear), Polona Poklukar and Ana Cajhen. Their creations combine the tradition of the millinery craft, exceptional craftsmanship and contemporary design approaches, transforming each headpiece into a unique fashion and art piece.
Fashion at the top
The exhibition places headwear within the context of contemporary fashion and youthful creativity. School pupils, university students and young designers explore the form, materials and significance of headwear, using original approaches to create a dialogue between the tradition of hat-making and contemporary fashion design.
Participants include Taja Frešer, Julia Kaja Hrovat (JKH Identity), Tilen Gorenjak and Zarja Černe, students at the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, University of Ljubljana, and design lecturers Metod Črešnar, Nataša Grčar Napast and Rudi Vrhovšek from the Ljubljana Secondary School of Design and Photography.
