The xhubleta, the traditional handmade garment of the women of the highlands of Northern Albania, is an element of intangible cultural heritage that represents craftsmanship, symbolism and highland identity. It is characterized by a bell-shaped bottom with waves and horizontal stripes, which is joined at the shoulders with two straps; it is made of shajak, pieces of wool, symbolic embroidery and colorful motifs.
Historically, the origin of the Xhubleta is linked to millennial traditions; researchers have linked it to Illyrian and ancient Mediterranean cultures, suggesting that it may have a shape and elements that make it not simply a garment, but also a mythological and social narrative of mountain communities.
For tourists, the Xhubleta represents a rare masterpiece and an opportunity to learn about traditional Albanian craftsmanship, as its preparation involves complex stages of preparing the shajak, sewing and embroidering symbolic motifs. It has become an identifying element of traditional Albanian clothing that stands out from any other costume in the Balkans.
The process to include the Xhubleta in UNESCO began around 2019. On November 28, 2022, at the meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Rabat, Morocco, the xhubleta was officially registered on UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
