Traditional Albanian clothing

Albanian traditional costumes from northern Tropoja region

'Traditional Albanian clothing (Albanian: veshjet tradicionale shqiptare, veshjet kombëtare, veshjet popullore ose kostumet kombëtare) includes more than 200 different kind of clothings in all Albania and Albanian inhabited lands. This is due to the division the Albanian principalities in the Middle Ages. The Albanian folk dress is often decorated with symbolic elements of antique pagan origin, like suns, eagles, moons, stars, and snakes.[1] Almost every region in Albania has its own traditional dress with women clothing being particularly colorful and rich in detail. 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

The Albanian Dress consist of the following elements:

Albanian headgear

Headgear

A traditional Albanian costume from the region of Labëria

Men

The following headdresses are in use for men:[2]

Shqiptar warrior costume, cca 1913.tif

For Women

The following headdress are in use for women:[5]

Pants and upper body covers

Xhamadan

Main article: 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

Main article: Brez (clothing)

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

Main article: 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

Main article: 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.

Style in different locations

South Albania

South Albania has many branches that come from many cities on the South.

Vlora

In the region of Vlora, the traditional costume for men is like the picture on the right. They use the Qeleshe cap. Then they wear a short black jacket, followed by a white shirt with wide sleeves. They also have a kind of a belt which is red and black like the Albanian Flag. They have black pants with long white socks. For shoes, they wear Opinga which are worn in Albania, Romania and Serbia. The costumes are very colorful.

Sofra Dardane Festival 
Costumes from Dibra 
Man and woman from Northern Albania 
Closer look at northern costumes 
Central Albania Jeleku 
Central Albanian women clothing 
Gjirokaster Festival Folk Singers 
Woman sleeveless jacket 
Skilled craft from the artisan women of Kukes

See also

References

  1. ↑ Leyla Belkaid (2013), "Albania", in Jill Condra, Encyclopedia of National Dress: Traditional Clothing Around the World, I, ABC-CLIO, p. 16, ISBN 9780313376368
  2. ↑ Gjergji 2004: S. 191
  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. 194

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Traditional Albanian clothing.

Artisan Skilled Crafts

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