‘We have a global message’: Willy Chavarria on his Paris debut

Vogue:  Do you see it as boosting your business in Europe?

Most certainly. That’s another exciting thing about showing in Paris: the buyers I’m meeting with in the showroom can come to the show, and I can share the feeling and the brand up close and personal with some of the people who haven’t yet been able to see it. As a company, we are growing quite rapidly.

Vogue: Would you consider opening a store in Paris?

I would love to have a flagship store in Paris, one in Tokyo and one in New York. I would like to open in Paris by 2026, no later.

Vogue: What else is planned?

We’re doing something very cool with Dover Street Market during Paris men’s fashion week. We are doing a collaboration with Latino Fan Club, the first gay Latino pornography company ever, from the late ’80s. It’s a capsule and it comes with a calendar of some of the most iconic ‘Willy’ boys wearing the underwear. There’s also a book called Dirty Willy. Actually, it’s a form of art-slash-pornography that we’re also going to be selling. The underwear party at Dover Street Market is on 26 January, to go into couture week on a high note.  We’re also having an Adidas special pop-up event in Paris. It will be selling some of the merchandise that is part of the show.

Vogue: How do you feel about celebrating the brand’s 10th anniversary in Paris?

In some ways it feels like a graduation into a next level, because globally, Paris fashion is respected as the pinnacle of fashion and has always been. I think that there’s no better way to celebrate the 10th anniversary than to be on the highest platform in local fashion.

Vogue: Did you design the collection with Paris in mind?

I’ll have a slightly more European take on the fashion itself. We’ll see a bit more tailoring. Knowing that the United States is the godfather of streetwear and Paris is the godmother of couture — it’s a nice combination and I’ll celebrate a bit more of the godmother side.

Vogue: Anything else you’d like to add?

We’re so incredibly excited and honestly just overwhelmed with joy at this opportunity. It’s a very special moment for me and my team. We’ve been spending some more time in Paris over the last couple of seasons, my team and I, visiting Paris and going to shows and getting to share a bit of the ‘Willy’ ethos. We began to lay the groundwork, but now is the moment for us to fully embrace Paris with hugs and kisses.

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