Our Story

OUR STORY

At SHQIPFUL, our Albanian heritage means something. Our products celebrate the feeling of belonging to one of the oldest cultures in Europe. Albanian history and culture is in our blood wherever we are in the world. We started Shqipful to remind ourselves of where we come from with unique and meaningful designs we and other Albanians can wear every day.

Tirana, Albania 2018.

How it all began

Alban Selami, an Albanian-American had returned to experience the homeland he had left when he was 13. Having grown up in the US, reconnecting with his roots by discovering the culture and traditions of Albania, was a life defining experience. He spent 4 years exploring the Albanian lands, taking in everything from the mountains to the sea, from the North to the South. He learned about our rich history and culture from visiting museums and castles, reading books and speaking with locals.

Sitting in various coffee shops, Alban and his wife Rudina got to hang out with numerous local creatives. Slowly, an idea formed to bring the work of these Albanian artists, designers and creatives to their compatriots all over the world. Over the course of deep conversations and many cups of coffee and raki, that idea grew into SHQIPFUL, an apparel brand celebrating Albanian culture and lifestyle.

FAMILY BUSINESS

What started as a husband-wife duo of Albanian heritage has grown into a team of 10 professionals dedicated to promoting our culture. We are based in the US, and strive to craft high-quality, unique designs with meaning behind them for Albanians everywhere. So far, we have shipped our products to over 30 countries around the world.