The Draper

The bazzaz was the merchant who specialized in selling fabrics and textiles of all kinds silk, cotton, wool, and linen. He was also known as “the fabric shopkeeper,” and this profession was highly popular in the traditional markets of Baghdad, where he would display his colorful, embroidered fabrics in attractive arrangements. The bazzaz was considered one of the most respected and prominent figures in the marketplace.

The word bazzaz comes from the Arabic root “bazz”, which refers to cloth or fabric, and the term itself means “one who deals in textiles.” He used a wooden measuring stick to precisely measure cloth, selling it either by the meter or by piece, depending on the customer’s request.

His role wasn’t merely commercial; the bazzaz also advised customers on the best fabrics for garments and special occasions, suggesting colors and patterns that matched the prevailing fashion in Baghdad at the time.

Though the nature of the profession has evolved with modern technologies and display methods the bazzaz remains a part of Baghdad’s living heritage, still present in the city’s fabric markets today.