Qeleshe


The qeleshe or plis, also qylaf is a white brimless felt cap traditionally worn by Albanians. It has spread throughout Albanian-inhabited territories, and is today part of the traditional costume of the Albanians. The height of the cap varies region to region.

Etymology

In Albanian: qeleshja or plisi, qeleshe or plisa, qeleshet or plisat.
The style of cap is thought to originate from a similar cap worn by the Illyrians.
The word qeleshe comes from the Albanian word for wool. According to Vladimir Orel, the word plis comes from Proto-Albanian *plitja, related to Old High German filiz id., Latin pellis id. and Greek πῖλος pilos id., Proto-Slavic *pьlstь id.; according to Michael Driesen, Orel's reconstruction is incorrect.

Overview

The cap is part of the traditional costume of the Albanian highlanders and is considered as a national symbol among a large number of Albanian communities. During the Ottoman period, the hat as a white colored fez cap was the characteristic Albanian national headgear, in particular of Muslim Albanians.
Ethnographic Museum.
In the northern Albanian highlands, the shape is hemispherical, while in Kukës, it is truncated. In southern Albania, the cap is taller than in northern Albania, especially in the Gjirokastër and Vlorë regions, with the exception of the Myzeqe low plains region. In some areas of southern Albania the cap has a small protrusion. The cap is made from one single piece of woolen felt, usually white, that is molded to the shape of the head.
The town of Kruja is particularly known for Albania's traditional felt-makers who also produce the felt caps qeleshe. The cap is used by men during the traditional weddings of the Tirana region.

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