Fez info requested

• Oct 31, 2011

• #1

Canadave

One Too Many

Messages

1,290

Location

Toronto, ON, Canada

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!

 

• Oct 31, 2011

• #2

Jedwbpm

One Too Many

Messages

1,031

Location

West Coast Florida

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

 

• Oct 31, 2011

• #3

Edward

Bartender

Messages

24,789

Location

London, UK

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".

 

• Oct 31, 2011

• #4

HatsEnough

Banned

Messages

1,142

Location

Cincinnati, Ohio

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).

 

• Oct 31, 2011

• #5

mayserwegener

Messages

17,246

Location

Maryland

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.

 

Last edited: Oct 31, 2011

• Oct 31, 2011

• #6

W-D Forties

Practically Family

Messages

684

Location

England

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.

 

• Oct 31, 2011

• #7

Jedwbpm

One Too Many

Messages

1,031

Location

West Coast Florida

Now I look Feztastic.

Jeff

 

• Oct 31, 2011

• #8

Edward

Bartender

Messages

24,789

Location

London, UK

HatsEnough said:

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).

Click to expand...

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).

 

• Oct 31, 2011

• #9

mayserwegener

Messages

17,246

Location

Maryland

Jedwbpm said:

Now I look Feztastic.

Jeff

Click to expand...

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.

 

• Oct 31, 2011

• #10

Oldsarge

One Too Many

Messages

1,440

Location

On the banks of the Wilamette

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

 

Last edited: Oct 31, 2011

• Oct 31, 2011

• #11

HatsEnough

Banned

Messages

1,142

Location

Cincinnati, Ohio

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

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

 

• Oct 31, 2011

• #12

The Wiser Hatter

I'll Lock Up

Messages

4,765

Location

Louisville, Ky

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

 

• Oct 31, 2011

• #13

mayserwegener

Messages

17,246

Location

Maryland

Oldsarge said:

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

Click to expand...

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.."

 

• Oct 31, 2011

• #14

Jedwbpm

One Too Many

Messages

1,031

Location

West Coast Florida

mayserwegener said:

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.

Click to expand...

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

Jeff

 

• Nov 1, 2011

• #15

X

xz123

New in Town

Messages

3

Location

Germany

Fezzes are cool!

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

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

 

• Nov 4, 2011

• #16

Canadave

One Too Many

Messages

1,290

Location

Toronto, ON, Canada

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?

 

• Nov 4, 2011

• #17

Edward

Bartender

Messages

24,789

Location

London, UK

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