Traditional company

Kärntner Heimatwerk: Successor wanted!

Mrs. Susi, Ewald and Elisabeth Opetnik are known to every Heimatwerk customer in Klagenfurt. The Opetniks are now thinking of handing over this "wonderful task" to new hands. Takeover wanted!

(Bild: Evelyn Hronek/EVELYN HRONEK)

Generations of Carinthians have been buying fabrics, traditional costumes and gifts from Heimatwerk - the dirndls have already been delivered as far away as Canada and Saudi Arabia. Now Ewald and Elisabeth Opetnik are looking for a successor for this "wonderful task" at Kärntner Heimatwerk.

The store on Dr. Arthur-Lemisch Platz exudes a cozy atmosphere: Countless rolls of fabric are waiting for nimble seamstress hands and a proud traditional costume wearer, blouses, skirts, costumes, suits, lederhosen, handbags, traditional costume jewelry, reindling forms, incense, candles, holy figures and much more are offered there. "And in the vault there are dozens of folders with detailed descriptions of cuts, fabrics and colors of the traditional costumes," reveals Ewald Opetnik, Managing Director of the Kärntner Heimatwerk.

How it all began
In 1952, the Kärntner Heimatwerk was founded as a department of the state of Carinthia, and the following year the Kärntner Heimatwerk association was formed. Chairman Franz Koschier encouraged people in all districts to found traditional costume groups. He created patterns for traditional costumes, partly based on traditional models, and defined cuts and colors that are still valid today among the wearers of "real traditional costumes". "That was the heyday of traditional costume back then," says Ewald Opetnik. "More than 50 people worked in the Heimatwerk at the time to sew the many traditional costumes."

The real traditional costume is our passion, our seamstresses make it here in-house. Other dirndls come from larger tailor shops in ready-made sizes. And the Carinthian business suit - we sell it worldwide!

Ewald Opetnik, Geschäftsführer des Kärntner Heimatwerkes

Rummaging through archives to design fabric samples
In 2006, Heimatwerk became a limited company, with Ewald Opetnik as managing director, who implemented many ideas. Soon afterwards, his wife Elisabeth became the second managing director and again designed all kinds of traditional costumes, such as the Roserl and the Knopferl. "We were allowed to rummage through the archives of the diocese, where I found the seal of St. Hemma. In Gurk Cathedral, Elisabeth and I came across the figure eight in a stained glass window. Both now adorn the fabric for the Hemma dirndl. We have also had such fabric patterns protected," reveals Ewald Opetnik, who also acquired shares in Heimatwerk GmbH with his family in 2016. 

Successor wanted!

Anyone who feels a passion for genuine traditional costumes and contemporary traditional dress, for tradition and beauty and has entrepreneurial talent should contact Ewald Opetnik at Kärntner Heimatwerk, Dr. Arthur-Lemisch-Platz 2 in Klagenfurt or by phone: [phone] or by email at [e-mail]

"We work together with traditional costume groups from the Großglockner to the Koralm, as well as with choirs and other associations, rural youth and schools, where we have already offered traditional costume sewing courses," says Opetnik happily. The tailors in Klagenfurt and Villach, the two Carinthian Heimatwerk locations, can draw on the extensive traditional costume archive. "We have great employees in the consulting and tailoring departments. Nothing works without them! The fact that Susi in Klagenfurt is still working in her retirement and master tailor Fini in Villach continues to work is proof of how much they enjoy working at Heimatwerk," says Opetnik.

Who has the passion and the entrepreneurial gene to take over?
He recently celebrated his 69th birthday and would like to take a real vacation with his Elisabeth. So the two are looking for a successor. "It's such a wonderful task!" emphasizes Elisabeth. "We want to pass it on to new hands along with the responsibility." Of course, the Opetniks will pass on any tips, information, the addresses of fabric suppliers and much more. "We want things to continue to go well. Because traditional costume is booming again, as we noticed at the big church festival in Villach, at the meadow markets and also before the Aufsteirern: people want high-quality traditional costumes that they can wear for a long time, in which they can always go anywhere in style."