Opinga (Gheg Albanian: Apânga) are traditional shoes which are worn by Albanian men throughout Albania, in Kosovo, the Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, in Greece by the Arvanites and in the Arbëresh villages in Italy.
History
Earliest archaeological evidence for opinga dates back to 5-4th century BC indicating they were an element in Illyrian culture. Later evidence of their use in Albania, comes from works of 16th century iconographic painter Onufri.
In 1610 Marino Bizzi, a Venetian patrician in Dalmatia, and Archbishop of Antivari wrote that he sees the men of Mirdita wear opinga, made of cow skin, and prepared by the men themselves.
The artisans of the kaza of Përmet held the monopoly in the trade of opinga in the vilayets of Shkodër and Janina until 1841, when that privilege was revoked under the Tanzimat reforms.