Cooper Stevens of Cooper Stevens Headwear introduced us to Bill Vero after listening to our plans for the PIAFEIRA Touring Cap. His response was simple: “Bill Vero is the person you want to talk to.”
Bill Vero is a third-generation helmet maker and craftsman whose family company, Everitt W. Vero & Co. Ltd., produced Everoak motor racing crash helmets worn by many of Britain’s leading drivers, including Stirling Moss, Mike Hawthorn, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jack Brabham and Innes Ireland.
During our conversation, Bill shared photographs from his personal collection showing his father competing in sporting trials during the 1950s wearing a flat cap fitted with a purpose-made retaining strap. He also identified an Italian linen cap with an overstrap from his father’s collection. Together, these photographs document that chin-strapped caps were already being designed and used during the period. The historical examples were based on the flat cap—the most common motoring cap of the time—whereas the PIAFEIRA Touring Cap applies the same principle to the modern baseball cap.
Bill was also kind enough to comment on the PIAFEIRA Touring Cap prototype: “That’s excellent! And good strap position, if not in use. The concept works.”
