Written By: Khansaa Houlbi
As he lands at Harvey Nichols - Dubai, we sat down with the designer to talk emotion-led design, taking up space, and why luxury means being yourself in your truest form.
Willy Chavarria is a name that instantly sharpens into focus. From Met Gala 2025 buzz to redefining the runway as a space for meaning, his work consistently arrives with spectacle, conviction, and a point of view. Chavarria does not treat clothing as decoration. He designs with intention, balancing raw feeling with sculptural precision, and using silhouette as a vessel for emotion, identity, and cultural commentary.
One of his most powerful statements came during his Spring/Summer 2026 presentation in Paris, when he opened the show with a chilling scene of models kneeling in formation, their hands bound behind them in a restrained, detainee-like pose. The imagery was a direct stance against Donald Trump’s ICE raids, and a refusal to let fashion remain silent in the face of dehumanization. It is this tension that defines Chavarria’s world, where bold shapes carry real weight, and where what you wear becomes inseparable form what you stand for.
Since 2015, Chavarria’s rise has been impossible to ignore. He has gone from insider favorite to full cultural force, creating clothes that speak fluently in both runway and real life. He dresses the famous yes, but most importantly, he dresses the fearless.
Now, Chavarria’s universe lands in the region with his Middle East debut at Harvey Nichols – Dubai, where luxury and edge meet with intention. To mark the moment, we sit down with the designer to talk faith, fashion, and everything in between.
Courtesy of Willy Chavarria
KHANSAA HOULBI: Your collections often balance raw emotion with sculptural precision. How do you begin – with a feeling, a silhouette, or a story?
WILLY CHAVARRIA: It always begins with a feeling, a reflection of the current mood of the world. I’m inspired by the beauty of people who often go unnoticed. Celebrity and glamour can be boring, and I’m more drawn to deeper beauty found in character. From there, I think about who we want to dress and who will feel drawn to the collection once it’s released. We then build the silhouette and craft the story.
KH: How has your own upbringing influenced and shaped the visual language of your brand?
WC: I was raised by a loving family who were very religious and very hardworking. I watched my father work, picking lettuce in the fields to put himself through school. My parents also grew up during the civil rights movement with leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Cesar Chavez. These leaders were icons for my family. We had to believe in hard work, and that we have to fight for human rights. I found this all quite beautiful.
KH: There’s a spiritual undertone in much of your work, from the music to the casting. How do faith, heritage, and activism intersect in your storytelling?
WC: We are all spiritual, whether we recognize it or not. I like to celebrate the truest of beauty. I see that as the beauty we create for ourselves in between the physical and spiritual world.
KH: The proportions in your work are instantly recognizable. What draws you to volume and shape as tools for storytelling?
WC: Experimenting with volume, shape, and silhouette is always my favorite thing to do. I think there’s something political about it. The amount of space we take up in a room, or the colors we wear, and how it does reflect back into the room. I grew up as a marginalized person in the United States, and I think that many marginalized people have been accustomed to disappearing in the room. I think there are very elegant ways to challenge that notion as we realize our own power.
KH: Can you give us an insight on what is a typical day in your life when it comes to designing a new collection? What does that look like?
WC: The only thing typical in my life is coming home to eat dinner and unwind with my husband. Because my days are filled with collaborations, travel, exciting new experiences, galas, and hard work, there isn’t much time to rest. That’s why I make it a priority to budget rest into each day. I sketch, take notes, write, and communicate through texts. That’s mostly my life.
KH: You’ve collaborated with global names and pushed your own label to new heights. How do you approach collaboration without losing your voice?
WC: I’m very particular about the collaborations I do. I only do collaborations with those who are aligned with my deepest intentions. Even with celebrities, I often say no if the fit isn’t correct. Luckily, the type of messaging that I incorporate into my work draws the same type of people that I’m attracted to, so I’ve been delighted to work with people who have similar ideological leanings, like Billie Eilish or Kendrick Lamar and Pamela Anderson.
Courtesy of Willy Chavarria
KH: Here at Sorbet, we were absolutely obsessed with your presence at the 2025 Met Gala. From dressing Maluma, Ms. Lauren Hill, to making waves at the iconic after-party, you truly owned Met Monday last year. Can you tell us about that experience – what it was like for you, and how the night unfolded from your perspective?
WC: Well, the most fun part was going with Maluma. He and I both like to have a good time, and we are both deeply Latino, so we know how to dress up, make people laugh, and smile. The party we had was beautiful. The music, the tequila, the dancing, the crowd, everything was so elegant.
KH: Can you tell us more about BIG WILLY? We remember the 2023 PacSun collaboration, and lately there’s been quite a bit of buzz online about a possible comeback, this time as your own standalone brand. Is that really happening? Can we expect to see BIG WILLY soon?
WC: BIG WILLY is in motion. It’s just waiting for the right moment to come out the door. I’m very excited about it because it’s based in workwear worn as streetwear, which is what I grew up in. It’s an elevated form of the classic workwear brands. It is constructed with the same integrity, but the fabrics are slightly softer and the fits are slightly more signature. There will be underwear and accessories that complement BIG WILLY. I think we can look forward to seeing it in January.
KH: Congratulations on your Middle East debut with Harvey Nichols – Dubai. Can you tell us more about how this partnership came about?
WC: The luxury customer in the Middle East is looking for something new and unlike whatever everyone else is doing. I think I just came along at the right time with a fresh perspective on what luxury means. To me, luxury means being yourself in your truest form. Harvey Nichols is the perfect place for me to launch Willy Chavarria in Dubai. The assortment brings on such a wide range of characters who enjoy shopping. I’m really happy that people of all ages will be able to discover the brand.
Courtesy of Willy Chavarria
KH: Why was it important for you and your brand to be positioned within the Middle East? And why now?
WC: My intention with the brand is to communicate a message of positivity globally. I’d like to touch every corner of the world. The Middle East has a very elevated understanding of art and fashion. I’ve come to know this over the past two years, and I really want to be able to communicate with that customer, to tell my story of equality and share a message of love to all.
KH: What aspects of your brand are you most excited to bring to the Middle East, and what are you most looking forward to the region discovering?
WC: I’m very excited about the cool factor in my work. I think it’s a look and a vibe that isn’t prevalently worn in the Middle East. It’s designer, but it’s got a very specific attitude. I’m also looking forward to seeing our womenswear in the Middle East. I actually love modest clothing for women. I find it very sophisticated and even a bit more sensual when a woman shows less skin.
KH: Would you consider creating an exclusive capsule collection for Harvey Nichols – Dubai, one that reflects a synergy between your heritage and the region?
WC: I think that would be so much fun. I love working with retailers. I often do store buildouts that reflect the collection or something going on in the area at the time.
KH: Aside from this new exciting partnership, can you give us a glimpse of what we can expect next from Willy Chavarria?
WC: I love allowing the brand to take its course. We have grown naturally and with caution. Now, it’s time for us to launch into things like accessories, footwear, women’s bags, and even jewelry. We will do these all with caution and do them when the time is right. It’s very exciting and I love it all.
KH: And lastly, what is your favorite sorbet flavor?
WC: Half lemon and half raspberry. And is it OK if I put chocolate syrup on top?
END OF STORY
