Roma Bazar, Cairo

What to buy here: Fez “Tarboosh”.

The fez used to be a formal hat for citizens and Pashas, made of soft and durable Kilim fabric. This fashionable headgear was worn in Egypt from 1805 till 1952, but now is rarely to be found. Only some Muslim Sheikhs and Bedouin travelers still use this vivid red cylinder-shaped hat, which was designed by the Andalusian Arabs back in the 17th century in the city of Fes in Morocco. From there is spread to the Middle East and specially the Ottoman empire and became a symbol of modernity. The Egyptian Fez almost disappeared with the end of the Mohamed Ali’s family monarchy after the revolution in 1952. The Egyptian version is a little bit taller than the ones used in north African countries like Tunisia and Morocco, with a more recognizable cylinder shape.

The Fez factory in Cairo is located in El Goureya Street, almost the only place in Egypt which still makes them. The hat is made by shaping palm wicker around a copper template then covered with durable Kilim fabric and placed under a special piston. Afterward, the Fez is carefully ironed and a tassel is attached. Tassels used to be of three colors: black or dark blue for teachers, professors, and business men, while the light sky-blue ones were for Muslim funerals Quran reciters. Tip: wrap a white turban around your Fez for an authentic Bedouin look!

Prices range from 20 to 80 pounds for an original fez. Cheaper models are not recommended as they usually have carton paper instead of a wicker, are made from a different fabric and won’t last for too long.