The chechia, chachia, or chachiya, is a very well known head piece in the whole Mediterranean world. This hat is a close cousin of the beret and is the national hat of Tunisia.
The manufacture of the chechia was considered a refined art obeying strict traditional principles.
Traditionally, the Tunisian chechia was made from combed wool, then knitted by the women who made the kabbous caps. Generally the spinning of the wool occurs in Djerba or Gafsa, then the knitting is relegated to the expert Kabbasat of Ariana, the fulling continues in the waters of the Medjerda in El Batan, the carding is performed in El Alia where the thistles originate, then the dyeing which is impregnated in Zaghouan The finishing and shaping are finally completed in Tunis. At this frantic pace of production, the Chechia probably traveled much more than the people who made it.
