One of Egypt's last fez makers takes pride in craft
This man is one of Egypt's last fez makers
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Nasser Abdel Basset has been crafting the fez for nearly 45 years
It's the iconic felt hat
that was once worn by Egypt's elite, bureaucrats and students
President Gamal Abdel Nasser abolished the fez
after the military toppled the ruling dynasty in 1952
as it was considered one of the symbols of the former ruling elite
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FEZ MAKER, NASSER ABDEL BASSET, SAYING:"I wish old times would come back. In past times, the fez was part of the uniform. Most of the people used to wear fezzes. No one could go to school or a government institution, without wearing it."
Students, scholars at Al-Azhar University and Muslim religious clerics
are now Abdel Basset's only clients
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FEZ MAKER, NASSER ABDEL BASSET, SAYING:"I learned the craft from an apprentice, I inherited it and I am now passing it on. You say that the craft will disappear? How come? I'm passing it on to my children."
