Final month, award-winning Latino dressmaker Willy Chavarria introduced his renegade sensibilities to the runway in France, lastly making his long-awaited debut at Males’s Style Week in Paris along with his fall assortment, “Tarántula.” Chavarria tells the story of American trend by a Chicano lens, creating now-distinctive oversize, sculptural silhouettes that pull from varied eras of Mexican American model, from sharply angular zoot fits to blue-collar workwear.
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Since launching his eponymous model in 2015, the Fresno-born designer’s potential to weave collectively tradition, politics and identification into the material of his garments has made him one of many buzziest designers working in trend as we speak. At one level throughout “Tarántula,” fashions walked down the runway to the sound of Bishop Mariann Edger Budde, whose sermon on the Inaugural Prayer Service included a direct plea to President Trump that he “have mercy” upon immigrants and LGBTQ+ individuals.
There have been quite a lot of acquainted faces to be discovered on the runway in Paris, together with Becky G, J Balvin and Tokischa — just some of the high-profile stars the designer has labored with. Chavarria understands the ability of visibility, and he’s selective in who he chooses to work with, figuring out that their superstar will assist amplify his message.
“The WILLY CHAVARRIA brand is a belief in human dignity and a right to identity,” he says. “When a celebrity chooses to wear the brand, it’s not just to look and feel sickening, but to share alignment with a belief in social justice. I’ve tended to attract the people I am attracted to, and we often become friends. I like to dress people who have worked hard to get where they are, and who are bold in their personal identity.”
Listed below are a few of the celebs who’ve boldly represented Chavarria’s model on runways, pink carpets or simply out in town.
Becky G
The singer, a longtime supporter of Chavarria, was nearly unrecognizable in her vampy, chola-inspired make-up look, sporting a “Sad Mami” tank high as a part of the “Tarántula” present. In an Instagram put up after the present, she wrote, “[Willy Chavarria] was one of the first designers to move me to tears…few years ago I sat in a New York City church behind Madonna as the sounds of my childhood played while the models, who looked like my family, walked down the aisle. Willy’s fashion made me believe that I belonged. That there was actually someone who cared enough about us to create & dedicate art to our culture. Chicano culture.”
Kendrick Lamar
With their shared West Coast satisfaction, it was nearly inevitable that these two would hyperlink up. Chavarria first labored with the rapper on his Huge Steppers Tour in 2023, and later dressed him for the viral sensation “Not Like Us” music video. Most lately, the duo introduced a Tremendous Bowl-themed capsule assortment forward of Okay.Dot’s upcoming halftime efficiency. “Kendrick performing is so monumental given his voice on the empowerment of brown and Black people and I love his pure L.A. heart,” Chavarria mentioned in an interview with WWD. “Working with Kendrick is an important cultural moment for the two of us. We both have an unwavering voice when it comes to our people.”
Madonna
The excitement round Chavarria skyrocketed when Madonna sat entrance row at his spring menswear present throughout New York Style Week in 2022. Since then, he’s labored with the legendary singer on quite a few events.
Indya Moore 
The “Pose” actor and activist sported an expertly tailor-made funeral coat on the “Tarántula” runway — a becoming, dramatic selection for the present’s setting on the American Cathedral. “It’s difficult to integrate meaningfulness in fashion culture, it can be unkind, at times hostile, and unintentional,” they wrote on Instagram. “[I’m] grateful for Willy’s creative capacity to create garments that hold us in ways that engage our dignity, as opposed to just our egos.”
Billie Eilish
By now, Eilish has turn into recognized for her oversize appears to be like, however the “What Was I Made For?” singer nonetheless managed to stun when she hit the 2024 Golden Globe Awards sporting a full Willy Chavarria match that included a black blazer, wide-leg khakis and a black necktie. She doubled up with one other of Chavarria’s busines- casual-inspired appears to be like on the Grammys a month later.
Tracee Ellis Ross
The actress has turn into a well-known fixture within the entrance row of Chavarria’s reveals, and has been seen on the pink carpet and out in town sporting his designs. “There’s an element of flamboyance, glamour and street that really matches my soul,” she mentioned of his work in an interview with Elle.
J Balvin 
The Colombian singer has been a good friend (and official muse) of Chavarria’s for years — so it was solely pure that Balvin would pull double obligation on the designer’s newest present. Not solely did Balvin mannequin considered one of Chavarria’s iconic fits, however he additionally gave an intermission efficiency.
Dangerous Bunny
Again in 2022, the Puerto Rican celebrity modeled a satin set from Chavarria in a narrative for Vogue, and later wore a floor-length black coat from the designer’s Fall 2023 assortment when he graced the quilt of Time the next 12 months.
Venus Williams
The tennis celebrity turned heads when she arrived on the 2023 U.S. Open sporting an Alaïa costume and a Chavarria blazer.
Ozuna
After making a shock look as a visitor at Chavarria’s 2024 New York Style Week Present, the singer upped his recreation this 12 months and walked the runway sporting an oversize plaid button-down and a white cowboy hat.
Tokischa
When Chavarria was being honored because the CFDA’s Menswear Designer of the 12 months in 2023, he arrived with Tokischa and Rauw Alejandro, all sporting complementary outfits that featured oversize silk gardenias. This 12 months, the Dominican rapper supported her good friend by strolling the runway in a retro bouffant and black funeral costume. “Your first Paris show was a powerful celebration of our culture, our roots, and the beauty of BLACK & LATINx Queer community,” she wrote on Instagram. “Thank you for sharing such a loud and clear message with the world.”
