1987 was the starting point in the career of the hat designer  Elvis POMPILIO. From a simple show room to boutiques in Brussels, Antwerp, Paris and London and  worldwide distribution: major Department Stores in America (Bergdorf, Saks, Bendel, Barneys, Neiman Marcus ...), the best Boutiques in Europe and a network of points of sale in Japan including Takashimaya, his business has expanded very quickly to an annual average production of 30.000 hats, hand made.

 

He skilfully styles the heads of celebrities from all over the planet : Madonna, Amelie Nothomb, Blondie, Lio, Harrison Ford, Mickey Rourke, Arielle Dombasle are regular clients, as well as members of the royal families of Great Britain, Norway, The Netherlands, Sweden and Belgium. Appointed Officier de L'Ordre de Léopold II, his work can also be found alongside Amelie Nothomb at the Grevin Museum and he works with Chanel, Mugler, Feraud, Céline, Bikkembergs, Anteprima... on their Haute CoutureJ and ready-to-wear collections.

 

He has moved in another direction when he ended these activities and concentrated on a Boutique-workshop in Brussels (which retained the styles he is known for: Knitted hats, Adaptable Hats as well as many one-off creations).

After a Pop Up store in Paris in Maria Luisa's boutique in the Printemps department store together with a Wedding collection in the same surroundings and a period of intense collaboration with Anne Demeulemeester and also Veronique Leroy, Véronique Branquinho and Axelle Red he recently decided to give another twist to his career by closing his shop and exploring the more artistical side of his personality while coming retruning to his roots with a new show room together with his work shop on Avenue Louise 437 at 1050 Brussels.  

2014 might see him as designing costumes for an Opera, creating a table for San Pellegrino , or expanding his business in Shanghai and doing many other things (e.shop) while keeping open collaboration  with his designer(s) friends and creating hats for the Queen of Belgium. 

In 2016, creation of costumes and accessories for the opéra La Bohème with the Artistic Director Albert André Lheureux.

In 2017, exhibition « Private Choice »  with curator Carine Fol at the Centrale. From that date Teacher and Speaker at the Master Accessories at La Cambre School.

In 2018, exhibition « Bruxelles Universelle » from La Centrale at the Centre Wallonie Bruxelles in Paris.

In 2021, Show « BNP Private Banking ».

In 2022 : Exhibition « Brussels Touch » about Brussels fashion at the Musée de la Dentelle in Brussels. In a regular way collaboration with Ann Demeulemeester and Maison Hermes with the new artistic director Antoine Plateau.

Participation at international events in Tahiti in Novembre: workshop Speaches and interaction with the local milliners.

Exhibition on his carreer (retrospective) « Identités» at Musée Artchives in Lille.

In 2023, Designer invited for the final show at the Tahiti fashion week & Exhibition « Drôles de têtes » at Musée KMSKA in Anvers (October 2023) and at the National Gallery of Ireland.

In February 2024 :

Creation of Manneken Piss for the Gallery Petit Julien in Brussels.

Regularly collaborations with artists as Axelle Red (Concerts Christmas songs and her 30 years carreer), Patti Smith, PJ Harvey, Musti, Lio, Charlie Winston, Guillaume Gallienne..

Creations for the Belgian Royal Family and in particular for Queen Mathilde and  Princess Delphine de Saxe Cobourg.

And in spring 2024, Elvis Pompilio opens a new Workshop/Showroom at the 21st rue Saint Georges in Ixelles in the art galleries area. It will function by appointment only.