Willy Chavarria - 2025 Willy Chavarria makes his Paris debut w/ Adidas
Willy Chavarria hit the Paris Fashion Week runway for the first time in January, with statement fashion, Adidas Originals and a bright red vintage car
In January 2025, the American designer made his Paris Fashion Week debut (Fall/Winter 2025). And it landed: with his own take on fashion and a really exciting collaboration with Adidas Originals.
The Paris Debut
Chavarria showed a collection that has something to say. It’s inspired by his American roots and takes a close look at themes like the migrant experience and diversity. Oversized silhouettes, minimalist but still dramatic, plus high-quality materials.
He presented it all at the American Cathedral in Paris, a place that perfectly underlined his message of inclusion and social justice. There was also a sermon speaking out against discrimination toward migrants and LGBTQ+ people. His clothes were a clear statement against exclusion and a celebration of identity.
The collection is strongly shaped by his Chicano cultural roots: iconic broad-shouldered suits, fine fabrics like velvet and wool, and a few womenswear looks. Chavarria stressed that it’s not an official womenswear line, though. For him, it’s about clothes that respect the female silhouette. And since Chavarria (who’s also Senior Vice President of Design at Calvin Klein, by the way) is known for street casting, he sent out a wonderfully mixed crew again, including Indya Moore and J Balvin. His models don’t just wear the clothes, they stand for his values: inclusion and solidarity.
A critique of overconsumption in the industry came along for the ride: he reused pieces from his own older collections. At the end, he wore a T-shirt reading “How we love is who we are,” and with that, pretty much everything was said:
Fashion should celebrate diversity and stand up against attacks on it.
The Collab with Adidas Originals
A special moment on the runway was the collaboration with Adidas Originals. Here, the sportswear giant meets Chavarria’s streetwear-inspired, avant-garde style.
The looks were athletic but with a playful twist. Adidas’ classic sport aesthetic meets Chavarria’s vision of a modern street look. And there was a statement here too: the pieces are unisex, regardless of gender.
The Red Chevrolet in Paris
Another highlight was the red vintage car parked right in the middle of the show. It wasn’t just an eye-catcher but part of the story: the car, which drove through the gray City of Love, stood for being “on the road,” for crossing borders (figuratively) and for the dream of freedom that keeps showing up in Chavarria’s designs. It carried the atmosphere of the show and made Chavarria’s vision of movement, history and cultural blending between the US and the rest of the world super visible.
And as a little marketing move, there were tote bags and nicely embroidered caps in the open trunk for anyone who stopped by, in the recurring colors red and blue.
The Takeaway
Chavarria’s Paris debut was a real moment: strongly staged, with a point of view, and with the Adidas collab on top. The media attention was more than deserved. The mix of fashion, social impact and visual playfulness (like that fiery red Chevrolet) has put him a good step further ahead as a designer.
