Mirë se erdhëtWhat we wore
Albanian traditional dress: xhubleta and plis
Traditional dress still comes out for weddings, holidays and festivals. Here are the pieces people ask about most.
Updated
Short answer
The xhubleta is the bell-shaped skirt of black felt worn by women of the northern highlands; UNESCO put it on its urgent safeguarding list in 2022. The plis, also called qeleshe, is the white felt cap worn by men.
Verified · checked on 25 Oct 2026
Source: UNESCO: Xhubleta, skills, craftsmanship and forms of usage (2022)
The xhubleta
Verified · checked on 25 Oct 2026
The xhubleta is a bell-shaped garment of black felt (shajak), worn by women in the highlands of northern Albania. In 2022 UNESCO inscribed the skills, craftsmanship and ways of wearing it on its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
Source: UNESCO: Xhubleta, skills, craftsmanship and forms of usage (2022)
The plis or qeleshe
Verified · checked on 25 Oct 2026
The white felt cap goes by several names: qeleshe, plis or qylah. A documentary film on the TIB AV-Portal shows the caps being made by hand in a family workshop in Prizren.
Source: TIB AV-Portal: making white felt caps in Prizren (film)
Regional costumes
Unknown · checked on 25 Oct 2026
Every region had its own dress, and families often keep a set for weddings. We are not listing each region's costume until we can source it properly; if you have a family costume and its story, send it to us.
Frequently asked questions
What is a xhubleta?
A bell-shaped garment of black felt worn by women of Albania's northern highlands. UNESCO listed it for urgent safeguarding in 2022.
What is the difference between a plis and a qeleshe?
They are names for the same white felt cap; qylah is another.
Where can I see traditional costumes?
At weddings and folk festivals, and in workshops that still make them, such as the felt cap makers of Prizren.
Sources
- UNESCO: Xhubleta, skills, craftsmanship and forms of usage (2022)
- TIB AV-Portal: making white felt caps in Prizren (film)
All sources checked on 25 Oct 2026. Anything we could not source was left out. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.
More photos of Albanian traditions on Beatrika's Instagram: @traditat_shqiptaree ↗
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