Meet Harvy Santos, the Filipino Behind Wicked's Iconic Hats

(SPOT.ph) It's official: Wicked is a certified blockbuster. It raked in over $165 million during its opening weekend—the biggest debut ever for a musical-turned-movie. Beyond its powerful score and stellar performances by Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, much of Wicked’s magic lies in the set and costume design that brings Shiz University—and later, Emerald City—to life.

And speaking of costumes, did you know that behind the fabulous hats in the movie is a Filipino talent? Ladies and gentlemen, meet Harvy Santos.

Santos is the senior milliner for Wicked. He was born and raised in Bacoor, Cavite, but is now based in the United Kingdom with his husband.

In Universal Picture’s short feature of Santos, we get a glimpse of him hard at work in his studio. With steady hands, he attaches vibrant ribbons, lays fabrics, and fine-tunes every element to create the perfect headpiece for the citizens of Emerald City.

“Every day, I’m proud of what I have accomplished, and knowing the fact that you are contributing on an epic film, that’s very exhilarating,” Santos said.

Also read: Elphaba or Glinda? This Wicked x Aldo Collab Has Something for Every Style

Harvy Santos has been turning (and styling!) heads long before Wicked

Santos started out as a professional ballet dancer at the Hong Kong Ballet for six seasons before taking up millinery—or the art of hat-making—at Kensington and Chelsea College (now called Morley College) in London.

“My fascination for costume started when I was six,” Santos said. “I used to be a ballet dancer. All of the money that I got from dancing… Every payday, I would buy myself books on garment construction and garment design.”

But Wicked is far from being Santos’ big break. The best of his work has been featured in several magazines, collections, and exhibitions since 2011. The Telegraph, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, and Elle are just some of the prominent publications that have carried his name.

By 2013, he was named The HAT Magazine's Hat Designer of the Year. By 2015, he was selected to join Headonism, a British Fashion Council initiative celebrating emerging British milliners. His creations have also been exhibited at the National Museum of Scotland and the Spielzeug Welten Museum in Switzerland.

Other highlights of his career include his designs being worn by pop stars Lady Gaga and Kylie Minogue in music videos and on tours—and oh, he’s even had the honor of meeting the late Queen of England. Now with Wicked, Santos proves he’s just as at home in the Land of Oz as in any kingdom.

Also read: This Forever 21 x Wicked Collection Is a Cute Homage to Our Favorite Witches