Fez info requested

[Canadave]

I got excited - Village Hat Shop has tons of Fezzes at great prices.
I was deflated - They must be made in China, I thought.
I was bouyed - They have big sizes...up to 7 7/8!
Fear was confirmed - I called and they ARE INDEED made in China.

Soooo, does anyone have any fez-perience with this style of hat? Where would you look for a giant-sized version NOT made in China? Are there bespoke options that aren't horribly expensive?

Any insights will be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Jedwbpm]

You can try this link for Macoy Publishing. They are a Masonic supply house. You could order a plan unlettered Fez from them.
http://www.macoy.com/Search.aspx?k=fez&s=Name%20ASC&p=0
Or you could buy one on ebay and remove the lettering.

Jeff

 

[Edward]

No direct experience with them. I wouldn't regard Chinese manufacture as an automatic sign of low quality so much as a low price.... The danger with a hat like a Fez is that you see them so rarely these days out of the context of fancy dress that most of the available options in current production are cheap fancy dress items. See also "spats".

 

[HatsEnough]

You know I'm never gonna do it without the fez on. Oh, no.

OK, Steely Dan aside, I can't imagine a time when it would be appropriate to wear a fez... unless I finally get that part in the remake of "The Mummy."

Someone enlighten me. When should a white dude wear a fez (besides Shriners).

 

[mayserwegener]

I know TONAK (Czech Republic) still makes them because I saw them being made when I visited the factory this past April. If you send me a PM I might be able help you out. TONAK was originally JHS who made the finest Fez. Noticed the Turkish flags in this early 1900s JHS photo.

 

[W-D Forties]

Hubby occasionally wears his in bed on cold nights. And when snoozing in front of the telly wrapped in his camel hair cloak. See - you'll got lots of use out of it! Especially if, like the Mr, you are lacking in other insulation on the old noggin.

He got them both in Tunisia.

 

[Jedwbpm]

Now I look Feztastic.

Jeff

 

[Edward]

You know I'm never gonna do it without the fez on. Oh, no.

OK, Steely Dan aside, I can't imagine a time when it would be appropriate to wear a fez... unless I finally get that part in the remake of "The Mummy."

Someone enlighten me. When should a white dude wear a fez (besides Shriners).

They're a nice alternative to a smoking cap round the house, and can also look well with black tie (where a smoking cap would be wholly inappropriate).

 

[mayserwegener]

Now I look Feztastic.

Jeff

Definitely Feztastic! Does it have a maker mark? The ones I saw at TONAK were fur felt and had leather like sweatbands. I should have picked one up.

 

[Oldsarge]

Didn't we have a thread some time back about the last tarbouche (fez) maker in Egypt? I guess not. Anyway, here he is.

 

[HatsEnough]

You know I'm gonna have that song in my head the rest of the day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q71gvV9n9Cs

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

http://www.fez-o-rama.com/

 

[mayserwegener]

Didn't we have a thread some time back about the last tarbouche (fez) maker in Egypt? I guess not. Anyway, here he is.

Interesting! The Austrian / Czech felt source was JHS now TONAK. I believe TONAK still uses the official red dye. JHS was the major producer of Fez back in the day.

"Mohammed walks over and displays the raw materials, which are now all made in Egypt, but during the business’ heyday were imported: felt for the outer surface of the cap (previously from Austria and Czechoslovakia.."

 

[Jedwbpm]

Definitely Feztastic! Does it have a maker mark? The ones I saw at TONAK were fur felt and had leather like sweatbands. I should have picked one up.

D. Turin Co.
http://www.dturin.com/results.cfm?category=12&secondary=20

Jeff

 

[xz123]

Fezzes are cool!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJEhzMdnpyM

I really hope The Doctor will finally wear a Fedora in the next season

 

[Canadave]

Thanks, all, for the responses. While I'm reluctant to buy something from China, it isn't usually due to the quality. If given a North American option, I'd rather take it.

Macoy, as recommended above, bring in the fez bodies (she didn't know from where...ya, right) and add sweatbands and do all the lettering etc. in-house. No lettering, no tassel = $32. No lettering with tassel = $41

Let's assume these are the 18 dollar Chinese ones with a sweatband. Is a sweatband worth 23 bucks?

 

[Edward]

I've ordered one of the Silver Screen editions of the Fezorama Cthulu fez. Looking forward to it.