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Kuwait Times
a day ago
- General
- Kuwait Times
Lebanese craftsman keeps up tradition of tarboosh hat-making
Nestled among shops in a bustling market in north Lebanon's Tripoli, Mohammed Al-Shaar is at his workshop making traditional tarboosh hats, keeping up a family craft despite dwindling demand. With a thimble on one finger, Shaar, 38, cuts, sews and carefully assembles the pieces of the conical, flat-topped felt hat also known as a fez, attaching a tassel to the top. Reputedly the last tarboosh craftsman in Lebanon, the Tripoli native has been making the hats for 25 years in know-how passed on by his grandfather. 'Our family has been carrying on this craft for 125 years,' said Shaar, who also studied tarboosh making in Egypt. The brimless hats made with maroon, black or green felt, some bearing floral motifs or embroidered with Lebanon's national emblem, the cedar, sit on display in the small workshop. While the tarboosh has been around in Lebanon for several centuries, it became particularly common during the late Ottoman period. 'The tarboosh used to have great value -- it was part of day-to-day dress, and the Lebanese were proud of it,' Shaar said, noting the hat now is largely seen as a traditional item or appealing to tourists. 'Nowadays, people barely wear the tarboosh, except for traditional events,' he said. Lebanese craftsman Mohammed Al-Shaar uses a heated mold to shape the ratan interior of a tarboosh, also known as 'fez', at his workshop. Lebanese craftsman Mohammed Al-Shaar wets a piece of felt used for making a tarboosh, also known as 'fez', at his workshop. Lebanese craftsman Mohammed Al-Shaar measures the ratan interior of a tarboosh, also known as 'fez', at his workshop. Lebanese craftsman Mohammed Al-Shaar sews the brim of a tarboosh, also known as 'fez', at his workshop. Lebanese craftsman Mohammed Al-Shaar uses a heated mold to shape the felt of a tarboosh, also known as 'fez', at his workshop. Lebanese craftsman Mohammed Al-Shaar cuts the brim of a tarboosh, also known as 'fez', at his workshop. Lebanese craftsman Mohammed Al-Shaar brushes a newly-made tarboosh, also known as 'fez', at his workshop. Lebanese craftsman Mohammed Al-Shaar poses wearing a traditional outfit and a tarboosh, also known as 'fez', at his workshop in the northern Lebanese costal city of Tripoli.--AFP photos Lebanese craftsman Mohammed Al-Shaar sews a tassel on a tarboosh, also known as 'fez', at his workshop. As well as a onetime symbol of prestige or social status, the hat was used for non-verbal communication, Shaar said. 'When a man wanted to woo a beautiful young woman, he used to slightly tip his tarboosh to the left or right,' he said, while knocking someone's tarboosh off was offensive. As successive crises have hit Lebanon, including a catastrophic 2020 port explosion in Beirut and a recent war between Israel and Hezbollah, tourism has diminished. Shaar said his 'work has slowed, and demand for the tarboosh has dropped' as a result. Sales have plummeted to just four or five of his handmade hats a month compared to around 50 before the crisis, he said. Recent customers have mainly been music and dance troops, or religious figures who wear the tarboosh covered with a turban. Shaar said he used to employ three others but now works alone, selling his handmade hats for around $30. But he said he wasn't about to close up shop or abandon his passion for tarboosh making. 'I feel like my soul is linked to this craft. I don't want to shut or to stop working,' he said. — AFP
Jordan Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Jordan Times
Lebanese craftsman keeps up tradition of tarboosh hat-making
TRIPOLI, Lebanon — Nestled among shops in a bustling market in north Lebanon's Tripoli, Mohammed Al Shaar is at his workshop making traditional tarboosh hats, keeping up a family craft despite dwindling demand. With a thimble on one finger, Shaar, 38, cuts, sews and carefully assembles the pieces of the conical, flat-topped felt hat also known as a fez, attaching a tassel to the top. Reputedly the last tarboosh craftsman in Lebanon, the Tripoli native has been making the hats for 25 years in know-how passed on by his grandfather. "Our family has been carrying on this craft for 125 years," said Shaar, who also studied tarboosh making in Egypt. The brimless hats made with maroon, black or green felt, some bearing floral motifs or embroidered with Lebanon's national emblem, the cedar, sit on display in the small workshop. While the tarboosh has been around in Lebanon for several centuries, it became particularly common during the late Ottoman period. "The tarboosh used to have great value -- it was part of day-to-day dress, and the Lebanese were proud of it," Shaar said, noting the hat now is largely seen as a traditional item or appealing to tourists. "Nowadays, people barely wear the tarboosh, except for traditional events," he said. As well as a onetime symbol of prestige or social status, the hat was used for non-verbal communication, Shaar said. "When a man wanted to woo a beautiful young woman, he used to slightly tip his tarboosh to the left or right," he said, while knocking someone's tarboosh off was offensive. As successive crises have hit Lebanon, including a catastrophic 2020 port explosion in Beirut and a recent war between Israel and Hizbollah, tourism has diminished. Shaar said his "work has slowed, and demand for the tarboosh has dropped" as a result. Sales have plummeted to just four or five of his handmade hats a month compared to around 50 before the crisis, he said. Recent customers have mainly been music and dance troops, or religious figures who wear the tarboosh covered with a turban. Shaar said he used to employ three others but now works alone, selling his handmade hats for around $30. But he said he wasn't about to close up shop or abandon his passion for tarboosh making. "I feel like my soul is linked to this craft. I don't want to shut or to stop working," he said.
Sharjah 24
5 days ago
- Business
- Sharjah 24
Lebanon's last tarboosh maker keeps tradition alive
Mastering a fading craft With a thimble on his finger, Shaar cuts, sews, and assembles the iconic conical, flat-topped hats made of felt, carefully adding the signature tassel. Considered Lebanon's last known tarboosh maker, he learned the craft from his family and further honed his skills in Egypt. "Our family has been carrying on this craft for 125 years," he said. From daily wear to cultural symbol The tarboosh, once a daily fashion staple during the Ottoman era, was a symbol of pride, status, and even subtle courtship. "It used to have great value—part of day-to-day dress," Shaar explained, adding that people now mostly wear it for traditional events or buy it as a souvenir. Some of his handmade hats feature embroidered floral motifs or Lebanon's national cedar tree emblem. The decline in demand Due to Lebanon's ongoing crises—including the 2020 Beirut port explosion and recent regional conflicts—tourism has dwindled, and so has Shaar's customer base. Before the crisis, he sold around 50 hats per month. Now, he's down to just four or five, mostly to cultural dance troupes or religious figures. A one-man operation with a passion Once employing three assistants, Shaar now works alone, selling each handmade tarboosh for about $30. Despite declining demand, he remains committed. "I feel like my soul is linked to this craft. I don't want to shut or to stop working," he said, determined to preserve a unique piece of Lebanese cultural heritage.
Nahar Net
5 days ago
- Business
- Nahar Net
Lebanese craftsman keeps up tradition of tarboosh hat-making
by Naharnet Newsdesk 12 August 2025, 18:12 Nestled among shops in a bustling market in north Lebanon's Tripoli, Mohammed al-Shaar is at his workshop making traditional tarboosh hats, keeping up a family craft despite dwindling demand. With a thimble on one finger, Shaar, 38, cuts, sews and carefully assembles the pieces of the conical, flat-topped felt hat also known as a fez, attaching a tassel to the top. Reputedly the last tarboosh craftsman in Lebanon, the Tripoli native has been making the hats for 25 years in know-how passed on by his grandfather. "Our family has been carrying on this craft for 125 years," said Shaar, who also studied tarboosh making in Egypt. The brimless hats made with maroon, black or green felt, some bearing floral motifs or embroidered with Lebanon's national emblem, the cedar, sit on display in the small workshop. While the tarboosh has been around in Lebanon for several centuries, it became particularly common during the late Ottoman period. "The tarboosh used to have great value -- it was part of day-to-day dress, and the Lebanese were proud of it," Shaar said, noting the hat now is largely seen as a traditional item or appealing to tourists. "Nowadays, people barely wear the tarboosh, except for traditional events," he said. As well as a onetime symbol of prestige or social status, the hat was used for non-verbal communication, Shaar said. "When a man wanted to woo a beautiful young woman, he used to slightly tip his tarboosh to the left or right," he said, while knocking someone's tarboosh off was offensive. As successive crises have hit Lebanon, including a catastrophic 2020 port explosion in Beirut and a recent war between Israel and Hezbollah, tourism has diminished. Shaar said his "work has slowed, and demand for the tarboosh has dropped" as a result. Sales have plummeted to just four or five of his handmade hats a month compared to around 50 before the crisis, he said. Recent customers have mainly been music and dance troops, or religious figures who wear the tarboosh covered with a turban. Shaar said he used to employ three others but now works alone, selling his handmade hats for around $30. But he said he wasn't about to close up shop or abandon his passion for tarboosh making. "I feel like my soul is linked to this craft. I don't want to shut or to stop working," he said.
France 24
5 days ago
- Business
- France 24
Lebanese craftsman keeps up tradition of tarboosh hat-making
With a thimble on one finger, Shaar, 38, cuts, sews and carefully assembles the pieces of the conical, flat-topped felt hat also known as a fez, attaching a tassel to the top. Reputedly the last tarboosh craftsman in Lebanon, the Tripoli native has been making the hats for 25 years in know-how passed on by his grandfather. "Our family has been carrying on this craft for 125 years," said Shaar, who also studied tarboosh making in Egypt. The brimless hats made with maroon, black or green felt, some bearing floral motifs or embroidered with Lebanon's national emblem, the cedar, sit on display in the small workshop. While the tarboosh has been around in Lebanon for several centuries, it became particularly common during the late Ottoman period. "The tarboosh used to have great value -- it was part of day-to-day dress, and the Lebanese were proud of it," Shaar said, noting the hat now is largely seen as a traditional item or appealing to tourists. "Nowadays, people barely wear the tarboosh, except for traditional events," he said. As well as a onetime symbol of prestige or social status, the hat was used for non-verbal communication, Shaar said. "When a man wanted to woo a beautiful young woman, he used to slightly tip his tarboosh to the left or right," he said, while knocking someone's tarboosh off was offensive. As successive crises have hit Lebanon, including a catastrophic 2020 port explosion in Beirut and a recent war between Israel and Hezbollah, tourism has diminished. Shaar said his "work has slowed, and demand for the tarboosh has dropped" as a result. Sales have plummeted to just four or five of his handmade hats a month compared to around 50 before the crisis, he said. Recent customers have mainly been music and dance troops, or religious figures who wear the tarboosh covered with a turban. Shaar said he used to employ three others but now works alone, selling his handmade hats for around $30. But he said he wasn't about to close up shop or abandon his passion for tarboosh making. "I feel like my soul is linked to this craft. I don't want to shut or to stop working," he said. © 2025 AFP
