The Story of Eyewear in Albania: From Rarity to Everyday Style
The Story of Eyewear in Albania: From Rarity to Everyday Style
Like many everyday items we take for granted today, eyewear — especially sunglasses, has a rich and winding history in Albania. Shaped by closed borders, cultural pride, and eventually, freedom, the evolution of crafted eyewear in Albania mirrors the country’s journey toward self-expression and modern identity.
A Glimpse of the First Pairs (1930s)
In the 1930s, sunglasses in Albania were a rare and coveted item. Discreetly imported from Italy or Yugoslavia, they were mostly worn by doctors, lawyers, or high-ranking officials in cities like Tirana and Korça. These early pieces were not about style, they were purely functional and incredibly exclusive.
If you owned a pair, it meant you were well-traveled, wealthy, or both. In some cases, sunglasses were custom-fitted or imported in small batches, making them early examples of handmade eyewear, treasured not only for their use but for their craftsmanship.
Frames of the Ottoman Era (Late 1800s – Early 1900s)
The origins of eyewear in Albania go even further back, to the late Ottoman period. In the 19th century, certain Muslim clerics, scholars, and urban elites in cities like Shkodër and Vlorë began using simple spectacles for reading and studying religious texts.
These spectacles were often imported from Istanbul, Vienna, or Paris. Many were handmade, reflecting the refined quality of European crafted eyewear of the time. Archival illustrations show hodjas and Ottoman officials with pince-nez or wire-frame glasses. Markers of literacy, learning, and elevated status.
Behind Closed Borders (1945–1990)
Under Albania’s communist regime, the country closed itself off from most of the world. Western fashion, including sunglasses, was largely inaccessible, and consumer goods were extremely limited.
Still, sunglasses made their way into Albania through unofficial channels. Diplomats, athletes, and artists returning from trips to Moscow, Beijing, or Rome would occasionally bring back pairs. These sunglasses were treated like gold — worn sparingly, repaired endlessly, and admired by many. Often, they were altered by hand, making each pair a unique form of crafted eyewear.
Even within official channels, certain workers, like pilots and miners, were issued protective goggles, though these were strictly functional. Outside those circles, however, a quiet shift was taking place. Sunglasses became aspirational, a sign of connection to the outside world and a glimpse into a different way of life.
The 1990s: When Everything Changed
After the fall of communism in 1991, Albania opened up—and with it came a flood of Western influence. Street markets in Tirana, Durrës, and Shkodër began filling with imported sunglasses, mostly from Italy, Turkey, and China. Aid packages and second-hand vendors made eyewear more accessible than ever before.
Young Albanians began wearing sunglasses not just to protect their eyes but to express themselves. Style became a statement of freedom. Inspired by Italian TV shows, music videos, and glossy magazines, a new generation embraced fashion as a way to claim their identity in a rapidly changing world.
A Look Through the Archives
Photos sourced from Robert Elsie – Early Photography in Albania offer visual proof of Albania’s long and evolving relationship with eyewear:
• 1922, Northern Albania – A hodji photographed by American writer Rose Wilder Lane, wearing optical frames at a time when most Albanians still lived without electricity.
• 1920s, Tirana – Carl Patsch, Austrian historian and founder of the Albanian National Museum, shown with wire-frame glasses—evidence of early European academic influence.
• 1873, Shkodër – A striking side-by-side portrait of a Muslim hodja and a Christian priest. The hodja wears early eyewear, suggesting that reading glasses were used by religious and educated elites even then.