Willy Chavarria

Chavarria has a rich résumé in men’s wear that ranges from highly commercial companies such as American Eagle Outfitters and Ralph Lauren to niche brands such as Voler and Dickies Construct. He also worked on the Yeezy label for over two years and was the creative director and owner of Palmer Trading Co., a vintage American store and apparel brand, for more than a decade.

His own Brooklyn-based label is influenced by his upbringing in the agricultural fields in the San Joaquin Valley and has become a visual statement of social messages ranging from anti-hate to acceptance of racial and sexual identity. Since its launch, the Willy Chavarria brand has collaborated with Kanye West, K-Swiss, Dickies, Hummel and others.

Chavarria was born in the small town of Huron, Calif., and studied graphic design at the Academy of the Arts. He started his fashion career in 1989 as a stock boy and then a designer for Joe Boxer, where he worked for four years. He joined Voler as designer of cycling apparel before being lured to New York City to work for Ralph Lauren for five years. Chavarria also worked for American Eagle Outfitters for nine years, and with Dickies to launch the Construct men’s label.