Traditional Albanian clothing
The traditional Albanian clothing includes more than 500 different varieties of clothing in all Albania and the Albanian-speaking territories and communities. Albania's recorded history of clothing goes back to classical times. 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 the country 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. 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. Men and boys are usually seen wearing long, white skirts and long socks that are similar to tights.
Parts
Albanian dress consists of the followingHeadgear
Men
The following headdresses are in use for men:- Qeleshe or plis: a type of hat worn by men in Albania, Kosovo, and the Albanian-speaking parts of Greece and North Macedonia. In central Albania it is cone-shaped, and in North Albania and Kosovo round.
- Albanian hat worn typically during the 15th to 18th centuries and immortalized in Onufri's paintings.
- Qylafë : a woolen high hat worn in southern Albania.
Women
The following headdresses are in use for women:- Kapica : a headdress for women.
- Langi, other names include: peshqira, riza, marhamë, pashnik.
- Lëvere : right shaped headdress.
- Kryqe : square shaped headdress.
Pants and upper body covers
- Fustanella : traditional skirt-like garment worn by men.
- Tirqe : long pants worn by men.
- Brekushe: for men and women.
- Xhubleta : Only worn by women.
- Mbështjellëse- Only worn by women.