Xhubleta Weaving

The xhubleta is a bell-shaped skirt worn by women in the northern Albanian highlands and in neighbouring areas, made of felted black wool strips joined to hang in a rigid conical shape, with woven and embroidered decoration in strong colours and applied cord and metal, and it is worn with an apron and jacket as a complete dress. It is very old in form, with parallels drawn to prehistoric figurines, and it carries markers of the wearer's age and status. Making one takes a great deal of skill and many months, and the number of women who can do it has fallen sharply, which is why UNESCO placed it on the Urgent Safeguarding List in 2022. Examples are shown in museums in Shkoder and Tirana and worn at highland festivals.

What you actually see

• A bell-shaped felted skirt - black wool strips hung in a rigid cone.
• Applied cord and metal decoration - the worked surface of the garment.
• Status and age markers - the details that identify the wearer.
• Museum examples - the best pieces held in Shkoder and Tirana.

When to go

Year round in museums; highland festivals in summer are where it is worn. One to two hours. The Logu i Bjeshkeve gathering in August is the main occasion in the north.

Honest expectations

Very few makers remain and there is no workshop set up for visitors. Museum examples are behind glass with limited interpretation. Seeing one worn depends on being at a festival. The tradition is genuinely at risk, which the listing reflects.

Nearby

Shkoder museums hold examples; the highland villages are north.