Albanian national clothing

The traditional clothing of Albania (Albanian: Veshjet Tradicionale Shqiptare; Veshjet Kombëtare; Veshjet Popullore or Kostumet Kombëtare) includes more than 200 different varieties of clothing in all Albania and the Albanian-speaking territories and communities (including the Arbëreshë in Italy, Arvanites in Greece and Arbanasi in Croatia). Albania's recorded history of clothing goes back to classical times.[1] It is one of the factors that has differentiated this nation from other European countries, dating back to the Illyrian period.

Almost every cultural and geographical region in Albania has its own specific variety of costume that varies in detail, material, color, shape, and form. Albanian folk dress is often decorated with symbolic elements of Illyrian antique pagan origin, like suns, eagles, moons, stars, and snakes.[2] Fabrics are traditionally made by weaving clothes using looms. To this day, some conservative old men and women mainly from the North wear traditional clothing in their daily lives. Instead, older women from the South usually wear all-black outfits.

Parts

Qeleshe or plis
Fustanellë
Xhamadan
Çorape
An Albanian costume from Kosovo

Albanian dress consists of the following


Headgear

Men

The following headdresses are in use for men:

  • Qeleshe [cɛˈlɛʃɛ] or plis: a type of hat worn by men in Albania, Kosovo, and the Albanian-speaking parts of Montenegro, Greece and Macedonia. This type of hat is very similar if not identical to the ancient Greek 'liberty' cap called pileus, not only in shape, but obviously in etymology too (Ancient Greek 'pilos', Albanian - 'plis'). In central Albania (Tirana, Durrës, Kavaja) it is cone-shaped, and in North Albania and Kosovo round.
  • Qylafë [ˈcylaf]: a woolen high hat worn in southern Albania.[5]

Women

The following headdresses are in use for women:

  • Kapica [kaˈpitsa]: a headdress for women.
  • Langi, other names include: peshqira, riza, marhamë, pashnik.
  • Lëvere [ləˈvɛɾɛ]: right shaped headdress.
  • Kryqe [ˈkɾycɛ]: square shaped headdress.[6]

Pants and upper body covers

Xhamadan

A xhamadan is a traditional vest, which is worn by Albanian men throughout Albania, in Kosovo, the Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and in the Arbëresh villages in Italy.

Brez

Brez are traditional belts, which are worn by Albanian men throughout Albania, in Kosovo, the Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and in the Arbëresh villages in Italy.

Çorape

Çorape are traditional socks which are worn by Albanian men throughout Albania, in Kosovo, the Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and in the Arbëresh villages in Italy.

Opinga

Opinga Albanian pronunciation: [ɔˈpiŋɡa]: (Art sandals), are traditional shoes which are worn by Albanian men throughout Albania, in Kosovo, the Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and in the Arbëresh villages in Italy.

Skilled craft from the artisan women of Kukës

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Albania", Encyclopedia of National Dress: Traditional Clothing Around the World, ABC-CLIO, 2013, p. 16, ISBN 9780313376368
  2. ↑ Leyla Belkaid (2013), "Albania", in Jill Condra, Encyclopedia of National Dress: Traditional Clothing Around the World, I, ABC-CLIO, p. 16, ISBN 9780313376368
  3. ↑ de La Curne de Sainte-Palaye, Jean-Baptiste (1875). Dictionnaire historique de l'ancien langage françois (in French). Champion (T. 01-09). pp. 316–.
  4. ↑ Anamali, Skënder (2002). Historia e popullit shqiptar në katër vëllime (in Albanian). I. Botimet Toena. p. 300. OCLC 52411919.
  5. ↑ Gjergji 2004: S. 191
  6. ↑ Gjergji 2004: S. 194
  7. ↑ "tirk - Wiktionary". en.wiktionary.org. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  8. ↑ "Traditional Albanian clothing - Nationalclothing.org". forum.nationalclothing.org. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  9. ↑ "dict.cc dictionary :: mbështjellëse :: English-Albanian translation". browse.dict.cc. Retrieved 2017-07-19.

Further reading

  • Andromaqi, Gjergj (2004). Albanian Costumes Through the Centuries: Origin, Types, Evolution. Mësonjëtorja. ISBN 978-99943-614-4-1.
  • Andromaqi, Gjerjgi (1999). Albanian Folk Costumes. Instituti i Kulturës Popullore, Departamenti Etnologjisë. ISBN 978-99927-654-6-3.

Artisan skilled crafts

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