This article is part of the Vogue Business 100 Innovators: Class of 2025, an annual list of individuals Vogue Business editors believe have the potential to change the luxury industry for the better.
Since launching his eponymous brand in 2015, Willy Chavarria has established himself as one of New York’s most influential designers. Having worked at New York brands including Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein for many years before founding his own line, Chavarria has the business savvy to match his design chops. A string of collaborations — most notably his ongoing work with Adidas — has helped him to prop up his own work. In 2024, the designer moved his runway shows from New York to Paris, cementing his place on the global stage. (Though he doesn’t rule out New York drop-ins in the future, he’s hosting a women’s Spring/Summer 2026 pre-sale event at Printemps this season.)
Chavarria consistently weaves activism and political commentary into both his design and his showcases. Most recently, in June, 35 men dressed in oversized white T-shirts knelt with their hands behind their backs. It was a statement in support of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in reference to persecution without due process in Salvadoran prisons, which took on new meaning in light of the Los Angeles ICE immigration raids. The statement drew both praise and criticism, and Chavarria stood steadfast in his messaging — a reflection of his commitment to protest through fashion. In July, Chavarria was announced as the ACLU’s newest artist ambassador, a role in which he will focus on advocating for immigrant and LGBTQ+ rights, further expanding his work across fashion and activism.
What’s the best career risk you’ve taken?
The best career risk I’ve ever taken was deciding to be an entrepreneur and build my own fashion house against all odds. This is something I believed I could do and I sacrificed so much of everything to make it happen; years and years of struggle for the sake of doing something that I felt passionate about.
What’s the biggest obstacle to pushing your vision forward?
The biggest issue there is in pushing a vision forward are the complexities of the business. There are so many levels of difficulty in every area of mastering a business that it can sometimes distract the heart and soul away from the grand vision. It’s very important for me to pray and meditate and stay close to the ones around me that I love in order to have clarity of vision while running the business.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to the next wave of innovators in your field?
I would tell any innovator or entrepreneur to hold true to their vision above everything else and to be willing to put in the work. Anyone who half asses it or is lazy, is bound to fail or just be a dick.
What’s been the most rewarding moment of your career so far?
The most rewarding moment of my career so far I believe was my ‘Huron’ show, taking place in Paris and having my family sit front row to witness a story about them and my hometown and how proud I am of the way they raised me.
What’s one business decision that you started with that you no longer believe?
I used to believe that great design would simply speak for itself and allow a business to grow around that. I now realise that great design is only a small component of what makes a business run. Each component is just as important as the design for a business to succeed.
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