Types and Variants of Garments and Textiles in the Highlands of Gjakova

Abstract

At the onset of the paper, we are introduced to the traditional clothing and textiles which have an old origin, such as with the female xhublete of Nikaj Merturi; the white and dark brown tirq; the white cap (plis), one of the most characteristic symbols in Northern Albanian and Kosova, as well as in Albanian villages of Macedonia; the traditional vest for men (xhamadan), deocorated with black stripes. We will also disuss various types of tight and loose fitting traditional themale clothing. The traditional clothing will be divided into two major groups: female and male. Within each group we will disuss the various main forms, structures, and distributions of the specific typesand varieties. In this paper we will also mention the considerable diversity that exists for traditional female clothing, namely where the main types include form-fitting and loose-fitting clothing which are “lidhce dhe merhame”that are used in the village of Zogaj and are similar to the traditional attire of Reka, as well, as the with the “xhublete” worn in Nikaj-Mertur in the villages of Ragam and Valbone. We will also focus on the similarities in these types of clothing that are found throughout the region of highland of norther Albania. Highland of Gjakova traditionally known for inploying a wide variety of female popular folk clothing, and to the extend that it could be posited that all the types of Highland of norther Albania are represented. The decorative elements of the female traditional clothing is particularly noteworthy, such as in regards to the complexity of the patterns on the headscarves which are usually multi-colored, as well as the manner in whitch they are used on different parts of the body. In this paper we will also discuss various characteristics components of traditional male clothing, such as form-fitting tirq incuding their various colors and shades, shirts, vest, scarves, caps; traditional children’s folk costumes whitch will be compared to those of their adult counter parts, but as simplified and practical versions given age-appropriateness, will also be mentioned. This paper will also present various traditions associated with such folk costumes, the decorative elements on the textiles, including the colors, the contrastive desgnes, and distinctive components, as well as regional similarities. Keywords: Symbolic folk costumes, symbolic elements in traditional clothing, types and varieties of folk costumes, ornamental and decorative clothing.