-Local hat maker making waves at Plantain Walk

By Trina Williams
Throughout our local history, millinery (hat-making) has played a major role in many Guyanese lives and though it may seem as though the art is dying, there are still some prominent hat-makers that are working to keep the craft alive and well.

While some might believe that age makes us mature, local hat-maker Fazal Mohamed contends that maturity is about undertaking responsibilities.

With encouragement from that simple phrase, 67-year-old Mohamed has been able to persevere.

For Mohamed, it did not matter that he was just a seven-year-old boy living at Vreed-en-Hoop and attending Malgre Tout primary school when his mom became a single parent. Fazal Mohamed did whatever it took to support his mother and five siblings, despite the odds being stacked against him. He even asserted that he was by his mother’s side right up until she recently passed away.

The Best Village, West Coast Demerara resident told the Pepperpot Magazine that despite having many interests and talents, hat-making is the art with which he has fallen in love.
Speaking to this newspaper, he claimed that he felt neither regret nor pressure from the duty; rather, he claimed that “it was what I had to do.”

Mohamed also added that before discovering his true calling, he first worked as a labourer and did carpentry work wherever it was possible before learning how to turn hat-making into a trade.
Mohamed noted that the craft had been in his family for many years, but he said he had made a few modifications to better the art and serve his clientele.

Although women dominate in the hat-making industry, Mohamed has been in the business for over 50 years and has never felt threatened by competition. This Plantain Walk resident is conquering millinery head-on, propelled by his creative flair and the support of his family.

Akeela Mohamed and Fazal, who have been married for about 42 years, have been devoted to supporting one another’s interests. His wife, who is fond of painting, stated in an invited comment with this newspaper that she has contributed her skills to his craft throughout the years.

Although he had already started his millinery career, the fact that he was a husband and a father of three spurred him to work even harder and owing to this dedication, he had been able to put all three of his children through school, all up to tertiary level, thanks to his tenacity and hard work.

In addition, he recalls drawing influence from the hats he made for his three sons and now his grandchildren.

Staying Humble
“Be the change in the world you want to see in the world”. Many of us complain about the state of homelessness and poverty but how many of us are actually giving?

For Fazal Mohamed, giving to those in need is not an obligation but a blessing and source of joy. Because of his charitable actions, Mohamed’s neighbours refer to him as the “foundation” or “root” of the community.

Moreover, he not only makes hats, but he also excels in cooking. When asked if he likes cooking over hat-making, he laughed, saying nothing can compare to millinery.

The Plantain Walk resident who began cooking at age 15, said, “cooking comes second because I love making hats.” He further stated that a plate of hot food is always there for anyone in need, regardless of the occasion.

According to Mohamed’s family, even passers-by can obtain produce from his garden, which includes dates, grapes, lychees, and pepper, to name a few.
He further provided a tour of the kitchen garden, bursting at the seams with local and exotic fruits.

According to his family, gardening is another activity Mohamed picked up and mastered independently. When Fazal is not listening to his vintage vinyl record collection, you can find him working in his garden or caring for his beloved rabbits.