One of a kind hats - Pasquale Bonfilio
Probably everyone of us have a dream to find a job which could be not just a simple job but also a huge passion. He is a designer of the unique hats who's enjoying 100% his job, maybe we couldn’t say job it’s more of a way of life. An amazing story about how Pasquale Bonfilio found his passion to create hats, everyday philosophy and rituals.
What was the reason that you decided to create hats? Not clothes, not furniture or graphics, but hats? Did you had some doubts about it? When did you start?
Like it often happens, the great things that change our lives, happen a bit by chance. My great passion in life is painting. Approximately 10 years ago, when I was still living in Brussels, I had my solo exhibition and I met Mr Pompilio, one of the greatest milliners in the World. He purchased one of my paintings and he asked my help to redecorate his shop. I did so and then he asked me help for some projects to manufacture some hats. I learned how to do hats and I discovered I loved doing it. As soon as I moved back to Italy, I started my own company doing my own hats.
Your career looks really successful, best magazine covers with your hats, collaborations with the designers, your own studio - everything looks amazing. Tell me what inspires you the most? Does your personal life have a huge influence to your creativity? How do you realize your personal life or ideas in your creativity?
I am enjoying this fantastic journey: I have no clue where all this will take me but I enjoy it day by day! As I mentioned I am a painter and I got a lot of inspiration from the Italian Renaissance paintings and the following centuries till ‘800. Then I also love cinema and a lot of inspiration came for me from the films of the ‘50s and the ‘60s. In my personal life I am lucky to have next to me a partner who shares with me the love for creating beauty and we regularly brainstorm together on possible creations, unfortunately he has 2 left hands I would say, but he enjoys seeing me making our ideas becoming reality in my hands.
What influences your designs? Also, you told us that all of your hats are totally unique. It‘s one of your value. Is it hard to make all of them different? Where all of those ideas comes from? In my opinion your designs are super theatrical – have you ever worked with the theater?
Indeed my hats are unique because I do believe that accessories make us unique, so they should be unique. Actually working for theaters is a bit a dream in my drawer… I haven’t had the opportunity so far.
What is your daily uniform? Do you have your favorite clothes or accessories with which you can not leave your home? What is your opinion about today‘s fashion. Can you describe what is fashion for you in three words?
I always wear quite elegant also at home, I always wear a vest (gilet) also when I work. I try to buy good elegant clothes that can last for years and I make my hats with the same philosophy. What breaks my hearts is seeing mountains of clothes hardly worn an entire season that pollute the World.
I am not able to describe what fashion is for me in 3 words… I think that each of us has his/her own defects or peculiarities, aspects that each of us hate. Fashion allows us to look more similar to the idea we dreamed of ourselves (Paraphrasing Agrado in Todo Sobre Mi Madre from Almodovar). That’s why it’s so important!
Do you have a person, that you would like to create a hat or some kind of design for? Maybe you already did that?
I had the chance to create hats already for different singers… but my dream is Madonna.
dream to make a hat for her!
Usually for designer a studio is a home, is it the same for you too? Can you describe your typical day in the studio? Do you have some everyday rituals?
For me it is very true because my studio is part of my home, at least for the time being. In the morning I dress up as if I had an important meeting, then I go to have breakfast at a bar close by for my daily cappuccino with croissant then I start working… there are meetings with stylists, couriers that come and go. My day often ends around midnight when I drop needle and thread and I go to sleep.
If you could choose, which century or year would you like to live and why?
I have always been extremely fascinated from History in general, so there are plenty of eras where I would love to live for at least one day… but I am sure in a previous life I lived in the Victorian’s England. I love that era, from fashion to lifestyle.. I feel at home when I read or see documentaries about those times.
Could you say, that your passion is your work?
I would rather say creating beauty is my passion! Being it by painting or making hats.
