	February 13, 1999	First Coast Entertainer Page 11
By Marsha DeClue Feature Writer Some cities give visiting dignitaries the keys to the city. Jacksonville's "unofficial" greeter V..Fathiyyah Muhammad of Bilal's Custom Caps and Only in America, gives custom-made, silk-lined denim caps “The best heads on the planet wear Bilal's Custom Caps." said Fathiyyah. She and her husband, James, target famous people coming to Jacksonville and design an original cap for each one Her caps grace the heads of rich and famous. Musicians, sports figures, politicians and others sport her caps. Fathiyyah got the idea to start her custom-cap business about ten years ago. She wanted to instill "a can do " attitude in her four children. They were bemoaning the fact that everything had already been done. "America is the place you can live your dreams if you work at it," she said. Her custom-made cap business built on her seamstress and alteration skills. After some discussion she and her husband came up with the idea to be the "unofficial" welcomer to Jacksonville. They wanted to give celebrities something special to remember Jacksonville. "These entertainers go all over the world, people are always wanting something from them and they're always giving people presents, she said."! I just wanted to give them something and say 'Thanks for coming to Jacksonville'." What would they give? Shirts were eliminated, recipients might not wear them at presentation. What will almost everyone wear? A cap. Everyone wears caps. So Bilal's Custom Caps was born. The caps are made from recycled denim jeans, with a designer silk lining. "What could be better than giving something made with the All-American fabric--denim?" The idea sounded good, but how could they get custom-made caps ready to present upon arrival? Fathiyyah and James decided to construct the caps based on measurements taken from publicity photos.	"Neither one of us is a mathematician," she said. "But we devised a way to measure the publicity photos and construct the cap from there." In all her years, she's only gotten one cap size wrong--Chuck Mangione. "His head is smaller than it looks." Her first cap was for George Bums, her most recent Gregory Peck. Along the way, this country music fan (and president of an all-black country music fan club) has met the likes of Alabama, Reba McEntire, Slim Whitman, Lee Greenwood, Kenny Rogers, The Judds, Ronnie Milsap, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Jr., and Barbara Mandrell. Others sporting her caps include former Presidents George Bush and Gerald Ford, politicians Jesse Jackson, Burt Lance, Walter Mondale and Bob Graham', sports figures Magic Johnson, Herschel Walker, and Chris Everett Lloyd, musicians Rod Stewart, Run DMC, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Eddie Rabbitt, and actors Bob Hope, Bob Barker and Eddie Murphy. Stars, braids, cords and other distinctive embroidery decorations individualize the cap. Some stars, like Count Basie and George Burns get four stars, others get just one. Other visitors, like Percy Ross, whose hat is embellished with dollar signs. include unique accents. All the caps are personalized with the initials of the celebrity Fathiyyah has been able to personally present all her caps, even the one to President William Jefferson Clinton. James asked the president to try the cap on and have his picture taken. Despite Secret Service protests, the couple was successful in capturing the president with a Bilal's Custom Cap. Although all the stars accept her gift and give her backstage passes, not all are as gracious	with their public. "I've seen them (stars) ask security to remove kids who just want an autograph. Most are really genuine and kind," she said One of her favorites? Alabama "Everyone, from the T-shirt vendor to the business manager, was as nice as can be." She's been on the bus with The Judds, backstage with U2, and captured in Official White House photos with President George Bush and his son, Jeb Bush, newly elected governor of Florida. As great as it is to have a photo with a sitting president's (Clinton) arm around her, she said he's not her impressive recipient. She said her presentation to President Bush, was her grandest--"We're conservative Republicans," she said with a wink and a smile. She can create the cap in a day. "In by 9(a.m.), out by 5 (pm.)," is her motto. To order a custom-made cap, call 904-254-9955 or stop by her shop at 840 Golfair Rd For a mere $75 your Valentine can have an original, custom-made cap. And for a gift sure to amuse that conservative in your life--a pair of Presidential Knee Pads. The knee pads sell for $9.95 and are in stock. "0nly in America can you make your dreams come true," Fathiyyah said. Only in America isn't just the name of Fathiyyah's business, it is a way of life for her and her family. Fathiyyah knows. She's ready to expand her business to an upscale consignment shop. The shop's opening is planned for this weekend. email Fathiyyah Zznuncy@aol.com


U.S. President William Jefferson Clinton with his Bilal Custom Cap and Cap Designers Fathiyyah and James		Luther Van Dross wearing his Bilal Custom Cap with Designer Fathiyyah