The “Chechia” is a red head cap with a black cord, usually made for men, it could be Tunisian or from Istanbul (Turkey) which is a bit longer where it is about to disappear. The “Chechia” also called "small carmine cap" comes back to today’s style and it is well known among the youth and it is exported in many countries around the world.

The red sharp cap, with or without black nipple trimming is not only sought after by the tourists who see the “Chechia” as an excellent exotic ornament where they bring it back as souvenirs. It is not only carried out by old generation as tradition. More and more of young people rediscover it and certain “Chechia” are even designed currently for women who wear them at the evening occasions.

The “Chechia” was provided with an eccentricity touch by the designers which constitute an important touch of various uniforms, as hotel’s employees or even employees of certain aviation companies.

Appeared in Tunisia in the 17th century, the “Chechia” was imported from Spain by the Moresque, a name given to the Muslims of the Iberian peninsula where their inhabitant converted by force to Catholic religion then expelled during centuries after the incident of 1492 of Grenade, the stronghold of "Andalusians", who found in Tunisia one second homeland where they brought the craft industry of the “Chechia”.

Made by highly skilled craftsman, the “Chechia” occupies three whole sections of the local market of “Madina” in Tunis; its success was so huge to a point, giving work to thousands of people.

It is exported by camels or ships, not only to Algeria, Morocco and Sudan, but also to all the Middle East (Egypt, Syria, …) and as far as Asia.

As of today, the Tunisian “Chechia” is sold in the Middle East and in many countries of Africa: Libya, Mauritania, Mali, Chad, and even Nigeria, the most populated country in Africa.

The tourist who, nowadays, buys a “Chechia” in a local market in Tunis, hardly imagines the amount of hard work that is involved in making it or at least the way it was carried out by the code of practice and or by its quality.

The beautiful “Chechia” is made of worsted, knitted wool made by women who make the bonnets "kabbous". These bonnets are sent to pressing, they sink it in hot water and soap and the men press them with their feet for a long time, in order to soften them, to a point that the stitches of knitting will disappear.

The thistle treatment, this prickly plant comes then, which is used for carding or combing of the bonnet, in order to transform the felt into downy velvet.

However, in our days, the thistle is replaced by the metal brush.

It is at this stage of the manufacturing process that the “Chechia” is tinted with the known vermilion red, but also in black, blue or dark green, with vegetable or animals, to be the most beautiful.

There exist uncommon colors, such mustard or turquoise which allures young people more and more.