Fez Hats

Fez Hats

Fez Hats, also known as Tarboosh or Tarboush in Arabic, have a truncated cone shape which typically features either a tassel or stem sprouting from the center of its top. The classic traditional Fez is dark red or maroon dressed with a black tassel. Its moniker, "Fez," stems from the city of Fez, Morocco which, up until the discovery of aniline dyes in the mid-1800s, controlled the extraction of the crimson berry red dye used to give Fezzes their characteristic color. 

The birth place of the Fez Hat is unclear - Fezzes could have either Ancient Greek, Tunisian, Moroccan, or Turkish origins. The modern Fez owes its popularity to its peak during the late Ottoman Empire when its use as the official headdress of the army and later, by all civil and religious officials, was mandated by Mahmud II. In 1925, however, the Fez was outlawed in Turkey as part of modernizing reforms.

Over time Fezzes have waned in popularity as part of everyday attire, though they remain part of traditional attire in some areas of the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, and South Africa. Today, its use is most often relegated to formal and/or ceremonial affairs. In the USA and Britain, Fezzes are also associated with various fraternal orders such as the Shriners.

At Village Hat Shop, we offer a variety of Fezzes in a medley of colors and with or without tassels. Our Fezzes are also available for Wholesale/B2B purchase, see our Wholesale Fez Hat page for details.

See Also: Historical & Deluxe Costume Hats, Novelty & Costume Hats, Wholesale Hats