About us

Okrasa, a production cooperative for people with disabilities, was founded on 13 June 1954. The aim was to create jobs for unemployed people in the Kysuce region, above all for women at home and for people with reduced working capacity. Mrs Terézia Kollariková was elected as the first chairwoman. The premises consisted of an older building on the square in Čadca with small rooms – three rooms for production, two for storage and one office. It stood where the Družba shopping centre stands today.

After the cooperative was founded, training began. Seventy people took part, but only 38 stayed. They became the core team for the further development of the cooperative.

After 1957 the cooperative acquired another building – a school in Raková – for production purposes. Thirty people were employed there.

In time, however, the condition and capacity of the buildings could no longer meet the growing demand on the domestic and foreign markets. The cooperative therefore built new premises in Čadca between 1963 and 1965 (the old plant building in our yard on A. Hlinku street).

Besides moving into the new premises, the plant in Žilina – cardboard packaging, employing 42 people – was also transferred. Production of thermal-oxide batches was gradually introduced at the plant in Raková, and the plant in Makov produced crusten lampshades.

In 1975 the sewing of tea towels, towels and table linen began in Klokočov, employing more than 100 people. After buying and renovating a plant in Turzovka, production of wooden goods, serving trolleys, flower pots and similar items was set up there.

In 1987 construction of a new plant began – today’s Okrasa production site – and it was completed in 1992.

Because of the lack of demand after 1989, production in Klokočov was closed, the cardboard packaging plant moved from Žilina to Čadca, and storage space was created in Raková. The woodworking plant in Turzovka was sold.

In 2001 the name Okrasa, výrobné družstvo invalidov, was changed to Okrasa, výrobné družstvo. Today the cooperative operates only in Čadca and focuses above all on making glass Christmas ornaments. Customers are welcome to visit the factory shop on the cooperative’s premises. The shop was moved into renovated premises after the flood in 2024. Rooms for the creative workshop and customer toilets were renovated at the same time. Guided tours of the production, with the chance to make your own ornament, take place regularly.

For customers who do not live near Čadca, Okrasa has this website, so ornaments can be ordered from the comfort of home. The cooperative currently employs a little over 40 people. You can follow us on Facebook and Instagram.