The American designer Willy Chavarria seems to have big plans for this year. The founder of the eponymous label, Willy Chavarria, introduced his next collection during Paris Fashion Week FW25, along with a collaboration with adidas that will be released in the fall. His designs celebrate Mexican culture, and the execution of this was flawless.
Kendrick Lamar is also a fan. The rapper shared that Willy Chavarria designed a collection in honor of the Super Bowl Halftime Show, which will take place next Sunday. 2025 looks promising for Willy Chavarria – and I’m a fan.
Get to know Willy Chavarria
For those who are not yet familiar with the work of Willy Chavarria, here’s a brief introduction. Willy Chavarria was born and raised in Fresno, California. Raised by an Irish-American mother and a Mexican-American father, Chavarria grew up in a working-class immigrant community, far removed from the fashion world of New York.
In his early twenties, Chavarria studied design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and worked in the warehouse of Joe Boxer. Between shifts, he spent his time sketching and designing clothing, which caught the attention of Nick Graham, who took him under his wing as an intern.
In 2010, Chavarria and his husband David Ramirez opened Palmer Trading Co. in New York, a store featuring vintage and contemporary pieces that reflected Americana culture. Five years later, he launched his own label, Willy Chavarria, which fully embraced the Chicano aesthetic.
Carreer
Since his debut, Willy Chavarria has experienced remarkable success. His designs create a unique bridge between high-end fashion and his Mexican heritage, something that was unprecedented in the fashion world at the time. His one-of-a-kind designs, characterized by oversized, tailored fits in red and black, combine luxury materials with refined tailoring as a tribute to his roots.
Chavarria's work quickly garnered attention and appeared in Vogue and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Through his collections, he highlights social issues such as politics, sexuality, and race -issues that are deeply rooted in Chavarria's childhood.
His ability to weave fashion and social issues together makes him unique and has taken him far. In 2021, Chavarria was appointed Senior Vice President of Menswear Design at Calvin Klein. A year later, he won the National Award for Fashion Design, followed by the title of CFDA American Menswear Designer of the Year in 2024.
Paris Fashion Week debut
In 2025, the label celebrates its 10th anniversary, a major milestone that deserves a grand celebration. Chavarria made his debut at Paris Fashion Week, showcasing his 'Tarantula' collection in the first American church founded outside the United States in 1814. For the show, the designer enlisted the help of J Balvin, Becky G, Tokischa, Jerry Lorenzo, and Ozuna - just to name a few.
But it wasn't just celebrities who graced the runway; ordinary pizza delivery drivers were also featured. With a strong focus on Chicano culture and the integration of LGBTQ+ individuals and stories, Chavarria put on a bold and relevant show on the biggest stage in the fashion world, especially in a month when queer rights are under pressure.
The collection was a unique mix of Chicano and Latino aesthetics, luxury tailoring, and social statement pieces with a cult-like vibe. The designs featured oversized silhouettes, sharp cuts, and a contrasting color palette. Chavarria combined rich materials like wool and silk with raw denim and leather, creating a tension between refinement and ruggedness. He also brought some vintage designs to the runway, which he had personally sourced on eBay.
The result was a spectacular whole, both visually and thematically.
Willy Chavarria x adidas
One standout part of the collection was the upcoming collaboration with adidas. The collection was characterized by classic adidas Originals pieces that had been given a Chavarria treatment. Think adidas Superstars with a hairy leopard print, oversized football tees, and tailored Firebird jackets.
We also saw a customized Forum 84 with an enlarged, chunky sole. Models appeared in long shorts, characterized by the three stripes, paired with leather bomber jackets and latex, fingerless gloves. It was a mix of oversized streetwear, combined with luxury materials and tailoring, just as we’ve come to expect from Chavarria.
Kendrick Lamar
Less than a week after showcasing his FW25 collection, rapper Kendrick Lamar revealed that Willy Chavarria had designed a special collection for the Super Bowl LIX halftime show. On February 9, 2025, the rapper will represent the West Coast at the Super Bowl, one of the world’s biggest stages. And what better way to do so than with the help of Chavarria?
The capsule uses Lamar's iconic line: "Got my foot up on the gas, but somebody gotta do it." In collaboration with Kendrick's creative agency pgLang and the NFL, the capsule includes limited-edition bomber jackets, shorts, and football tees. The proceeds from the collection will go to the victims of the wildfires in Los Angeles, the duo's hometown.
The West Coast seems to have the fashion world in its grip, and I couldn’t be more excited. While we still have to wait for the adidas collaboration, it’s safe to say that 2025 is the year of Willy Chavarria, and we’re only one month in.
