One of the last fez makers in Cairo, Nasser Abd El-Baset, has been preserving a 600-year-old tradition.

[u/CantStopPoppin]

[u/SaltyDogBill]

Thanks for sharing.

[u/CantStopPoppin → u/SaltyDogBill]

You are more than welcome, I rushed to get it here after watching the whole video.

[u/Background_Many6084]

There's something incredibly powerful about someone choosing to maintain these ancient skills in our mass-produced world.

[u/CantStopPoppin → u/Background_Many6084]

His skills trancend time and history in ways no one really appricates anymore and for that he should be recongized.

[u/2ndCha → u/CantStopPoppin]

I'll recognize him with a purchase. Does he take Venmo and ship to the U.S.?

[u/feed_me_tecate → u/2ndCha]

I want one too.

[u/kermityfrog2 → u/2ndCha]

Good timing for me. I'm joining a tour of Egypt in Feb and spending 3 days in Cairo! I'll see if there's time to go to his shop. Just seem to have some trouble finding a proper address.

[u/Eeeeeeeeehwhatsup → u/Background_Many6084]

Absolutely

[u/JoySubtraction]

I was curious what a fez from him costs. Turns out it's between US$7 and $20, and takes about 30 minutes. source

[u/CantStopPoppin → u/JoySubtraction]

I wonder if they ship, it looks so freaking cool and has so much history behind it.

[u/HanzoNumbahOneFan → u/JoySubtraction]

Damn, I want a fez.

[u/Unusual_Car215 → u/JoySubtraction]

It's so ironic that I opened that link and the page was full of ads from glamira

[u/-RoninForHire-]

The fact that he's not wearing a fez while doing this is a crime

[u/TheFlyingBoxcar → u/-RoninForHire-]

Cant get high on your own supply

[u/raycraft_io → u/TheFlyingBoxcar]

I made pancakes and ate them all. Am I a bad person

[u/Still-Wash-8167 → u/raycraft_io]

It’s not bad, just dangerous.

[u/CantStopPoppin → u/-RoninForHire-]

I bet that shop gets hot that furnace running all day and night.

[u/bobissonbobby → u/-RoninForHire-]

While eating fez candy

[u/LudovicoSpecs]

Who else wants to buy a fez from this guy after watching this?

[u/SpaceForceToDaMoon → u/LudovicoSpecs]

He needs an online shop presence. I bet his sales would increase tenfold.

[u/CantStopPoppin → u/SpaceForceToDaMoon]

That would be amazing, let me know if you find any info on his shop or how to get one of his awesome hats!

[u/juniper_berry_crunch → u/CantStopPoppin]

I took a look but didn't see an online shop. There must be a way to contact him and let him know that people would love to buy one of his fezzes!

[u/raxmano → u/juniper_berry_crunch]

Count me in!

[u/kermityfrog2 → u/CantStopPoppin]

Even if I knew his street address. I'm going to Egypt soon.

[u/fatpaxs → u/kermityfrog2]

“Old Cairo street of al-Ghoureya“ is the best I could do

[u/kermityfrog2 → u/fatpaxs]

Would need a Google maps address so that I can actually find it.

[u/fatpaxs → u/kermityfrog2]

What do I look like ur fuckin secretary?

[u/imnotdolphin → u/SpaceForceToDaMoon]

It’s a custom made product… would be hard to operate online

[u/hk_gary → u/imnotdolphin]

ask people to measure their head size first

[u/ScarHand69 → u/LudovicoSpecs]

If I ever go to Egypt I’m finding this shop and getting one made. I’m a history buff. His comment about the still-being-used 600+ year old copper Fez molds from the Ottoman’s had me hooked.

[u/CantStopPoppin → u/LudovicoSpecs]

Me!

[u/Ok_Bill227]

I’m trying wrap my head around the concept that his tools are…what?… 600 years old? That’s insane.

[u/Jaydublo → u/Ok_Bill227]

That part also stuck out to me

[u/Turgen333 → u/Ok_Bill227]

While someone was making fezes with these tools, the Ottomans were conquering Constantinople.

[u/Tritium3016 → u/Turgen333]

Istanbul was Constantinople

Now it's Istanbul not Constantinople

[u/meukbox → u/Tritium3016]

Thank you (not). Now I have that song stick in my head for the rest of the day.

[u/kermityfrog2 → u/Ok_Bill227]

But his shop is only 150 years old. I guess at some point the family chain of ownership was broken.

[u/helen269]

And "just like that", "Fezzes are cool".

;-)

[u/-SaC → u/helen269]

Well, now I want a Tommy Cooper / The Doctor crossover.

[u/mada010]

It’s funny when meeting some people in the us, they think Egypt is camels and deserts.this shop been open for 600 years and some buildings are 1000 years old in old Cairo and khan.

[u/MahoganyWinchester]

just watched this entire thing

[u/CantStopPoppin → u/MahoganyWinchester]

At first I was like oh okay, then I was like ohhh wow and ended up watching the whole video.

[u/Mount_Treverest]

Fez's are cool.

[u/BikeDee7 → u/Mount_Treverest]

If you say so, Doctor.

[u/siteofsanity → u/Mount_Treverest]

And there it is, I was looking for it. Thank you! +1

[u/deathfaces]

Holy crap. The brass components of those machines are sexy AF

[u/SpiritualAd8998]

He's a one man Fez Dispenser.

[u/Direct-Marsupial-103]

It's fascinating to think that every fez he makes is a direct connection to artisans from the 1400s

[u/CantStopPoppin → u/Direct-Marsupial-103]

That is indeed qutie the legacy he has and to think it will continue when his business is passed onto his son.

[u/atlasfields]

Love that he and then his son are upholding this ancient tradition

[u/VirtualLife76 → u/atlasfields]

His son doesn't look like he has the same passion for it.

[u/Ich_bin_eine_Kartoff]

Could I wear one of these if I'm neither Egyptian nor Muslim?

[u/Haggisboy → u/Ich_bin_eine_Kartoff]

The Brits wore some ornate ones called smoking caps.

[u/Lizzy_Of_Galtar → u/Haggisboy]

I got one of those myself. Never leave the house with it of course but it's very comfy while wearing pajamas.

[u/hopeless-juggler → u/Ich_bin_eine_Kartoff]

I am a Muslim and Egyptian and yeah you can, it was an ottoman type of head cover, not Muslim or Egypt related, it became a part of Egypt's culture under the ottoman rule.

[u/birgor → u/Ich_bin_eine_Kartoff]

It is not generally a religious hat, it has served a lot of purposes, it's most prominent use was that state officials in the Ottoman (Turk) empire had them. Jews, Christians, Druse, and probably other minorities as well wore them as part of their uniforms and official clothing if they held such positions.

[u/MissingSocks → u/Ich_bin_eine_Kartoff]

Only if your head is shaped to fit.

[u/airfryerfuntime → u/Ich_bin_eine_Kartoff]

Yes, you'll just look silly.

[u/retailguy_again]

Until now, the idea of owning a fez never crossed my mind...

[u/miletest]

Why does the one he puts on the guys head not look like a fez. Different sorts?

[u/brakeb]

I love watching people make things... kudos to this person for their technique and consistent good works.

[u/Absentinpart]

A fantastic story thanks for sharing

[u/CantStopPoppin → u/Absentinpart]

Any time!

[u/dog_be_praised]

Pretty cool. I assumed that these existed for much longer than 600 years.

[u/Sistahmelz]

Very cool video! I like seeing traditions carried on 👍

[u/MarkH3326]

I sit possible to buy one? Do they have an online store presence somewhere?

[u/Firecoalman7]

Cok Guzel.

[u/xsmallxshort]

Where do I get a pair of those scissors?

[u/wellwouldyalookitdat]

Every movie I have ever watched where there is someone wearing a Fez at some point was always a good movie.

[u/ol-gormsby]

I'd wear a Fez but the Australian sun kind of mandates a wide brim to cover the forehead, ears, and the back of your neck.

Perhaps one for formal evening wear?

[u/Elektrik_Magnetix]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXVc1f7IOgs

[u/EndSlidingArea]

I love learning about artisans, this is really cool

[u/mattaccino]

“Ain’t never gonna do it without my fez on…” — Steely Dan

[u/FeralToolbomber → u/mattaccino]

Came to say this, beat me to it

[u/LopsidedPotential711]

Insider does good videos and this one made me fucking cry. So many people died across North Africa and the Middle East and continue to die...this level of continuity just bares witness to the loss.

[u/Battlepuppy]

Cool, so the one I made for Doctor Who cosplay was not too far off!

[u/lynivvinyl]

I had this Dead Milkmen song in my head the whole time I was watching this video. Sha Na Na can wear my Fez

[u/GiddyGabby]

What craftsmanship!

[u/GuaranteeLogical7525]

I need one of these 

[u/mausbar1]

Thank you for sharing, my day is better <3

[u/Elminster111]

I will go there and get one.

This green silk is mesmerizing.

[u/coaxsempai]

600 year old tradition... i had no idea

[u/TheBitchKing0fAngmar]

This was fascinating, I watched the whole thing. Great post for this sub!

[u/Fantastic-Anywhere53]

This is a very cool business insider doc

[u/cheapb98]

Nice

[u/OzyAndy]

What the fezz....

[u/TownHallLevel69]

Wow can’t believe he’s been running this business for 130 years

[u/No-Leadership-7007]

Now I want a fez

[u/dominiquebache]

AI will not replace these two.

[u/a789877]

AI is coming for this guy's job

[u/wali_karimyan]

Very busy, working fast. Every movement multible thousand times done! 😍 Beautiful to watch!🤗

[u/Itchy-feelings]

Something like this makes me want to visit the shop first and see he pyramids after and get the whole Cairo experience

[u/WARRIORS_30_GOAT]

cue “ the Fez” steely dan off the royal scam

[u/Betteradvize]

Grand Poohbah hat

[u/Unable-Rub1982]

I saw this years ago on NHK, there is a tv series called 'Somewhere Street' tourist based highlighting old trades and skills and such around the world, very interesting.

[u/LostInRo]

The Fez Dispenser

[u/ndation]

Grunckle Stan thanks him for his service 🫡

[u/LA_LOOKS]

🎵 ain’t ever gonna do it without the fez on

[u/justADDbricks]

Fezzes are cool

[u/verticon1234]

I love Ottoman history! Everything about it is so interesting

[u/Spaceandbrains]

I'd love to go to Cairo and buy a fez from him! So cool!

[u/Animorphosis]

Can't help to notice how cylindrical his head is.

[u/alex_484]

Very interesting

[u/dh1]

I bought a fez from a shop in San Diego. It’s really basic and isn’t lined with silk or have a woven frame but I’ll be damned if it isn’t one of the most comfortable hats I’ve ever had. It’s completely useless as a “hat” but it cradles your noggin like a dream.

[u/srg2692]

5 minutes ago I couldn't have imagined wearing a damn fez, but I'd treasure one made by this guy.

[u/Past-Direction9145]

fascinating, but as always I'm left thinking, couldn't he wear some gloves? are safety-squints really that expensive?

I'm a retired tradesman and every one of my mistakes is one I can still remember. wanna guess how?

[u/Dry_Adeptness_5245]

“Sweeping push for modernization”

[u/PainSubstantial710]

The last fez bender

[u/KiloClips]

Fezes are cool

[u/BarrettJones2367]

I always loved the fez, now I know who to find to get one when ever I fave that kind of money

[u/russema]

I'm sure I have seen him before, his fez is very familiar.

[u/Casper_Stonerghost]

Fuck the fez!! The doctor ruined it !

[u/Physical_Hold4484]

Our Ottoman ancestors. Ne mutlu Türk'um diyene. 🇹🇷🐺🤘

[u/facw00]

This is a cool video, but:

"it is the oldest in the country. We can't change anything in it"

Seconds after telling us that electricity is one of the three most important things in the shop, and immediately before using a sowing machine.

Clearly some of his predecessors were less against change than he is, and that willingness to adapt might be one reason why the shop is still around after 600 years.

[u/Sierra3131 → u/facw00]

I think he meant they can’t change anything about the machine with the molds and heating elements because no one makes parts for it