“When I started Willy Chavarria, my intention was gender fluidity. The industry, though, is still structured around gendered categories. When I design, I don’t think about gender at all. My sketches are just a head, a circle and body made of straight lines — no [genitalia].” 
 
Centring Latinx influences and gender fluidity in American fashion — recent years have cemented California-hailing ascendant Willy Chavarria as one of the world’s most urgent, coveted design forces. Courted by A-list fans and with social messages more pressing than ever before, 10 years since his eponymous label’s inception, it’s crossing new frontiers on a regular basis. Covering our Spring/Summer 2025 issue, he talks his monumental January Paris Fashion Week debut, disregarding gender in the design process, marrying his West and East Coast histories and how Chicano culture defines his brand’s DNA. Plus, he answers questions from a bevy of friends, fans and collaborators, including Colman Domingo, Julia Fox, Leon Bridges and Paola Ramos. 

TAXES/DUTIES:

Photography by Diego Bendezu
Styling by Chino Castilla
Words by Maxime Couturier 

Editor Andrew Wright
Art Director Michael Morton
Fashion Director Luke Day
Production Director Lola Randall
Junior Art Director Natasha Lesiakowska

Models Elias Armando at Soul, Erik Calderon at Next & Mehdi Abouzaid at Next
Hair by Chika Nishiyama
Make-up by Mitch Yoshida at Streeters
Set Design by Colin Lytton
Movement Director Jorge Dorsinville        
Casting Director Brent Chua
Photography Assistants Brandon Abreu, Ben White        
Styling Assistant Ana Paula Cervera
Set Design Assistant Aidan Caldwell
Videography by Mylo Butler
Social Media Christain Jara