Elvis Pompilio – Hats off!

Hat designer Elvis Pompilio is a household name in the fashion world. National and international stars, as well as members of various royal families, are often seen wearing his creations. He also made his mark as a designer at various fashion houses such as Dior, Chanel, Thierry Mugler, etc. We selected five memorable hats. Do you collect fashion as a theme, and do you also have hat stamps in your collection? What do you think of the design of this sheet, which was issued on January 26, 2026?

Elvis Pompilio – Hats off!

Almost forty years ago, Elvis Pompilio took his first steps as a milliner. Today, his work adorns the heads of world stars, royal families, and a Belgian postage stamp. “From a young age, I had a passion for fashion and accessories,” says Elvis Pompilio. “When I was eight, I asked my mother to knit wool hats that matched my outfits.” Two years later, he created his first pieces: carnival hats for nephews and nieces. “A beautiful, festive, and artistic memory,” he smiles.

From small to large to small. The cap became a cult piece and brought him to the attention of fashion houses such as Chanel, Dior, and Thierry Mugler. Belgian fashion houses such as Ann Demeuelemeester, Véronique Leroy, and Véronique Branquinho also approached him. Not long after, he adorned the heads of Madonna, Amélie Nothomb, Blondie, and Harrison Ford. “That is a form of recognition. Those people can buy anything, so it is a privilege to be chosen.” The royal houses of Belgium, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and Sweden also approached him.

Nevertheless, in 2002 he resolutely chose the more artistic path: he closed all his shops and continued solo. “I wanted to return to my original passion: creating, and less on managing a business.” Today, he works exclusively on specific projects, often personal, always unique. “It is a natural selection. I still work with prestigious houses like Hermès, but equally with a student who was saving up for her first hat.”

His approach is as subtle as it is personal: “I try to decipher a person’s personality, physique, and character traits to create the right piece.” That craftsmanship and attention turn every design into a story in itself.

Stamps

1. Hat with rabbit ears, a reference to Pinocchio. Made in the 90s. This is the first in a series of hats that ranged from the most eccentric to the most wearable.
2. Top hat made with a patchwork of straw ribbons. 2020 Collection.
3. Portrait of Elvis Pompilio, a tribute to René Magritte.
4. Cap, a unique piece made for Manneken Pis in 2023.
5. Hat made from recycled fabrics (cotton tent for children). Summer collection 2021.

Vel

Elvis Pompilio logo, silhouette of a side view of a person with a cap, filled with colorful small hats. Cap shape in the form of a head with a cap.

Analysis of issuance

According to bpost: Hats off to the stamp designer

That same approach was also reflected in his contribution to the new stamps. “The designer Myriam Voz really delved into my work, so the choice of images came naturally.” For Elvis, the result is more than symbolic. “It is surprising and a crowning achievement, like being appointed an Officer in the Order of Leopold II or a member of the Royal Academy of Belgium. And that as the first milliner.” The fact that the hat and the stamp meet now is no coincidence. “A stamp is absolutely a form of art, just like a hat. I hope that people discover my creativity, my passion, and my imagination in it.”

I find the sheet a bit busy, causing the stamps to get lost. Especially the many small hats, which have the same colors as the stamps in the sheet, are 'too much' for me. The theme is well chosen, though, drawing on other art movements such as that of Magritte.

Source: Bpost.