While touring Albania, I spent a day in the town of Kruje, top tourist attraction for historical significance in a scenic location with traditional crafts like carpet weaving, embroidery and Albanian hatmaking. I would prefer to call them caps, solely worn by men.
It was great to talk to Ardian who continues to craft felt caps and slippers using centuries old methods passed on to him by his father who runs a couple of souvenir shops located in the heart of Kruje’s bazaar. Those caps and slippers are all of similar shape, artisanal pieces crafted with care. Local wool is first washed and cleaned. Fibres are separated and loosened with a special bow. I watched Ardian pick off bits of plants. The wool is then formed into blocks, compressed with a wooden hammer, left overnight soaked with soap and water before being blocked and finished off the next day.
Those caps can be seen all over Albania, some of them are embroidered, thought to be more attractive to tourists, I suppose.
I was asked to come back and meet Ndricim, Ardian’s father, later on. Business is being challenged by cheaper, machined ‘hats’ from Asia. However, a large order is being discussed with a Canadian company at the moment, wanting to market that ‘product’ as a simple lightweight lampshade, using just a fine layer of wool to let the light through.
Article by Meike Laurenson via Mandy Nash