Fashion
Who Is Willy Chavarria? Meet the Designer Behind the Looks of Doechii, Billie Eilish, and More
Willy is diminishing walls and building bridges through fashion.
by Kyla Villena
Published on Apr 22, 2025
A certain runway look has been making rounds on the fashion side of X. It features a constructed emerald jacket on top of a shirt and tie—all tucked into a breathable pair of khaki work pants. Apart from thin frame glasses, a black belt and shoes to match, also completing the look are keys dangling off a belt hook and a voluminous slicked-back hairdo.
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Behind the look is Willy Chavarria. Even if you don’t think you’ve heard of him, you’ve definitely seen outfits by him. Here are 10 things to know about the New York-based fashion designer.
Who is Willy Chavarria?
1. He’s of Mexican and Irish descent
Willy was born to a Mexican father and an Irish mother, and raised in California’s San Joaquin Valley. He consistently derives inspiration from his roots, coming from a family of immigrants, and experiences as part of the working class.
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PHOTO: Instagram/ebay, willychavarrianewyork.
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2. He previously worked in Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein
Willy’s entrance in the fashion industry involved working in stockrooms and shipping departments. That is until 1999 happened: he had moved to New York in pursuit of his fashion design dreams—with an opportunity to work in Ralph Lauren, no less. He spent around five years contributing designs to the brand’s RLX line. Willy’s skill as a designer only kept growing, which didn’t go unnoticed by Calvin Klein. He was tapped to serve as their Senior Vice President of Design in 2021. His tenure ended in 2024.
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3. He launched his eponymous label in 2015
More than a decade after introducing himself to the New York scene, Willy was able to set his own brand in motion. His love for nightlife was the primary reference for his genesis collection, showcasing the raver aesthetic and the structures of 90s streetwear. Today, his label is actively stocked in worldwide retailers like Dover Street Market and Browns.
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4. He was named CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year for two consecutive years
Who decides who gets an award from the CFDA or the Council of Fashion Designers of America? Well, the very peers of brands and designers. Willy’s increasingly personal and political collections set him apart and led to him receiving the top menswear distinction in both 2023 and 2024.
5. He is a proud advocate of LGBTQIA+ rights and other social causes
From referencing the Transgender Movement, the Black Power Movement, and El Movimiento Chicano in 2017 and queer culture in 2018, to challenging gender tropes in 2021 and representing the working class in 2025, Willy’s collections have been nothing short of consistently empowering.
PHOTOS: Willy Chavarria
6. He made his Paris Fashion Week debut in Fall/Winter 2025
His collection, titled Tarántula, stayed true to the social distinctions in his identity. His queerness, biracial identity, and simple upbringing shone through the mixture of delicate Italian fabrics like silks and velvets with striking hues of crimson, plum, and golds. As always. As always, the tailored and eclectic workwear were donned by individuals of various heights, ages, and sexual orientations, who were mostly casted in the streets of Paris and New York. What better place to have taken his first Paris runway than the American Cathedral?
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PHOTOS: Willy Chavarria
7. He designed Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl capsule collection
Not long after his aforementioned PFW debut, the limited-edition collaboration between Willy and pgLang, the creative label by Kendrick Lamar, was announced in light of the rapper’s historic Super Bowl halftime show. It consisted of a hoodie, bomber jackets, shirts, and gym shorts that embodied the American hip-hop and athletic aesthetic. Proceeds were donated to organizations and individuals affected by the Los Angeles fires.
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PHOTO: Instagram/willychavarrianewyork.
8. He collaborated with Bench in 2019
Willy was tapped by Bench for their Bench/Active 2019 presentation, where their shared goal was to empower people. He mentioned that the Filipino brand’s sincerity for philanthropy work was one of the factors that encouraged him to take part. This resulted in wearable, democratic, and accessible street wear inspired by traditional work uniforms and jail clothing.
PHOTOS: Kristine Barreiro
9. He frequently dresses artists and celebrities
From recording artists like Doechii, Billie Eilish, and Omar Apollo to Hollywood actors like Tracee Ellis Ross, Indya Moore, Colman Domingo, Willy’s work has graced various stages, studios, and red carpets.
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PHOTO: Instagram/willychavarrianewyork.
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PHOTO: Instagram/willychavarrianewyork.
10. He was named by TIME as one of the Most Influential People of 2025
Willy’s heart of authenticity radiates through his bold designs, statements, and creativity. In honor of Willy being one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025, Becky G, an American singer and actress of Mexican descent, shared that she felt like an outsider in the fashion industry—until she went to a Willy Chavarria show where the models looked like her and her family.
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PHOTO: Instagram/willychavarrianewyork.
