GLADIA and the people behind it
Who We Are
We are Matej Zorko and Špela Freitag Zorko, founders of the GLADIA Garden Systems brand.
Matej: I am a mechanical engineering graduate with more than ten years of experience developing agricultural machinery at a well-known Slovenian company. My industry experience, technical knowledge, and natural curiosity strongly influenced the creation of the first GLADIA tools. I design, test, and refine every tool with care, aiming for precision and excellence.
Špela: I am a graduate nurse, naturally attentive, precise, and dedicated. My perfectionist streak ensures that the products are not only functional, but also well-designed, comfortable to use, and user-friendly. Together, we form a strong balance of knowledge, patience, and creativity.
We have two children - two boys who are our greatest motivation. With curiosity and enthusiasm, they already enjoy helping us with our work. We hope that one day we can pass on something more to them. Something we created with our own hands and that together we will continue to grow and develop the GLADIA Garden Systems story.
The story behind the name
From Gladiatorka to GLADIA systems
When we began expanding our line of garden tools, the need to upgrade the brand emerged naturally. It all started with Gladiatorka. The name comes from its core function—the tool smooths and levels the lawn surface, which is why the name was created spontaneously and quickly caught on in the Slovenian market.
We wanted to preserve these roots while developing them into a modern, international form. This is how GLADIA garden systems were created. The name represents an entire family of products with the same strong character and recognizable design line, while also being easier to pronounce and understand beyond our borders.
Because we believe that women are powerful beings who steadily push forward and strive for perfection, the name retained its feminine form. It is a symbol of strength, patience, and precision. The core idea behind the naming still draws inspiration from the heroes of ancient arenas—the Gladiators. Each of our tools carries part of this symbolism: fearless fighters that enter the arena of your garden and battle together for the final victory—a perfect, healthy, and flawlessly maintained lawn.
The road so far
01 - The Problem
How it all started
For several seasons, without much knowledge, we worked on the area around our renovated home as hobby gardeners. Since we were never satisfied with the final result, we decided to leave the lawn to a professional gardener, but unfortunately, the outcome disappointed us greatly.
02 - Learning & Discovery
Taking matters into our own hands
The following spring, we decided to take matters into our own hands. Over the winter, we spent a lot of time learning and discovered tools used abroad for leveling terrain. In Slovenia, the market was still underdeveloped, and the tools available from abroad seemed poorly made and likely usable for only a season or two.
03 - The First Prototype
First demand for the product
Because we wanted a tool that would truly work, Matej began developing his own lawn leveler. He built the first one mainly for personal use. The prototype was basic - oversized and heavy, but it attracted a lot of interest from friends and neighbors.
In the following weeks, he refined it further and produced the first small batch. When people around us started wanting their own. What started as a hobby grew into an idea, and from that idea, a brand was born.
04 - Today & Our Philosophy
A family-run company
Today, as a family-run business, we produce high-quality garden tools in small batches. Every product comes from a real need, is tested by our own hands, and refined until it meets our standards.
We don’t follow competitors because we don’t want to be a copy—we think beyond established patterns. Our goal is not quantity, but products without compromises: functional, durable, and thoughtfully designed.
All tools are made from materials that can be recycled after a very long lifespan, because sustainability is important to us. The products are not mass-produced, so sometimes they require a little waiting.
— Špela Freitag Zorko, Founder
All components are designed and physically produced in Slovenia. Even when a standard element is not made by us, we try to source it from the EU rather than China (such as screws, PVC caps, etc.).
— Matej Zorko, Founder