Artisan in Lebanon continues to produce tarboosh hats, preserving age-old hat-making techniques.
In the heart of Lebanon, a centuries-old tradition continues to thrive, albeit with a diminishing presence in everyday life. The Tarboosh, a brimless, conical felt hat, once a symbol of prestige and social status, has been a part of Lebanese culture for several centuries, particularly during the late Ottoman period.
The Tarboosh, often maroon, black, or green, featured cultural motifs like Lebanon’s cedar emblem. Beyond fashion, it served a non-verbal communicative role. Men used it to signal romantic interest in women, subtly tipping it to the left or right.
The craft of Tarboosh-making has been preserved by families like that of Mohammed Al-Shaar in Tripoli. Al-Shaar, a 38-year-old craftsman, learned the art from his grandfather and studied it in Egypt. His work is a living link to heritage, even as the hat's use has sharply declined outside traditional or tourist contexts.
Today, the Tarboosh is rarely worn daily but appears in traditional events or as a cultural symbol appealing to tourism. Recent customers of Al-Shaar's hats have primarily been music and dance troops, or religious figures who wear the Tarboosh covered with a turban.
Sales of Al-Shaar's handmade Tarboosh hats have plummeted to just four or five a month, compared to around 50 before the crisis. Tourism in Lebanon has diminished due to successive crises, including the 2020 port explosion in Beirut and the recent war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Despite the challenges, Al-Shaar is not considering closing his shop or abandoning his passion for Tarboosh making. He feels his soul is linked to the craft and does not want to stop working. Nowadays, the Tarboosh is largely seen as a traditional item or appealing to tourists.
Al-Shaar's Tarboosh hats are made with maroon, black, or green felt and may have floral motifs or the Lebanese national emblem. Each hat takes several days to complete, a testament to the skill and dedication required to create these pieces of cultural heritage.
Knocking someone's Tarboosh off was considered offensive, reflecting the respect and importance attached to this traditional headgear. Despite its rarity in everyday wear, the Tarboosh continues to hold both historic significance and continuing cultural value as a marker of Lebanese identity and artisan legacy.
Israel's home-and-garden magazines might feature an article about the decline of the Tarboosh, a traditional Lebanese hat, as a part of everyday lifestyle. Despite the challenges, Israeli readers may be intrigued by the unique cultural symbols and artisan legacy represented by the handmade Tarboosh hats, such as those made by Mohammed Al-Shaar in Tripoli.
