The Zlatorog Factory was one of the oldest manufacturing companies in Maribor and, indeed, in Slovenia. It developed from a soap factory on Rotovž Square, which Karl Bros bought in 1878. In 1905, Bros moved production to the plot of land on which the Zlatorog Factory would later develop and grow. In 1920, the factory began making Zlatorog laundry soap.
From 1946 to 1951, Zlatorog was one of the most important chemical factories in Yugoslavia. It was known for its cosmetics, laundry detergents, cleansers, toothpastes, and so on. In the size of its production and sale of laundry detergents it was among the leaders in Yugoslavia and Central Europe. In 1957, it signed a licensing agreement with the Hamburg-based H. Schwarzkopf Company and began producing shampoos, hair dyes, and hairsprays. In the early 1970s, it was the first company in Yugoslavia to develop the production of deodorants. By agreement with the Margaret Astor company, Zlatorog produced decorative and preparative cosmetics. Under various licensing agreements, it made suntan lotions, toothpastes, and hand creams, and developed its own lines of women’s and men’s cosmetics. In 1990, the Henkel company bought a 51-percent share in the factory, and in 1996, it bought the remaining 49-percent share. At the turn of the 21st century, the company Henkel-Slovenija was the largest exporter in the Maribor region.
The exhibition employs innovative architectural and design approaches to convey the history of the factory and its products. It presents the modernity that was once closely tied to the concept of Europe. This sense of the modern permeated the factory’s production process, products, and advertising, and did not in any way lag behind the international trends of the time.
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 10:00-18:00; Saturday: 10:00-13:00