His collector’s career was temporarily put on hold during his school years and move to Switzerland. Sašo Suknaič rekindled his interest in the history of Planica during his free time and started inquiring about brooches – by contacting former competitors, fans of Planica and the organisers. The furthest he has travelled to fetch a brooch was North America.

Owing to his passion, the man has so far collected over 700 brooches, which makes him the largest collectors of brooches from Planica. He is fond of each and every one of them, but the oldest brooches are dearest to his heart. And there’s a special story connected to the very oldest brooch: during a conversation with his aunt, Suknaič discovered that she has an interesting brooch practically at hand, in her sewing kit.

The official Planica brooches served as an accreditation for competitors and organisers. Spectators of the ski flying event, who had the option to buy one, proudly clasped them to their hats of pullovers as proof that they had taken part in the Planica spectacle.

Katarina Braniselj, TV Slovenija; translated by K. Z.