September 8, 2024 |
What is América? With a giant flag as the backdrop and copies of the U.S. Constitution courtesy of the ACLU on each seat, it was clear that Willy Chavarria had the upcoming election on his mind. For the designer, being an American is closely intertwined with his Mexican heritage – a melding of two worlds that any child of immigrants can relate to. That was evident from the get-go with a live performance by Yahritza y Su Esencia, a trio from Yakima, Washington who specialise in regional Mexican music. The siblings performed a cover of Juan Gabriel’s ‘Querida’ to kick off the evening.
The show was divided into three segments: Fine Fashions, Willy Produce, and Community Center. Opening with tailoring the Willy Chavarria way, proportions were exaggerated yet with the swagger you’d come to expect from his cast. Featuring slick pompadours and glasses, it was elevator and cool, especially with the hair swooped into pompadours. Standouts included the first look with a green bomber that will surely be a hit as well a riff on workwear with an oversized take on the classic Carhartt jacket. Suiting was another strong point, complete with a collaboration with Allen Edmonds as each look was accented with the Jalisco oxford, a unisex design. For Willy Produce, the designer nodded towards his upbringing in Huron, California, where Mexican immigrants worked in the field, forming the United Farm Workers to better advocate for fair wages. Sweatshirts emblazoned with UFW’s logo as well as straw hats and bandannas drew from what agricultural labourers would wear.
But the big surprise of the evening? Following what would normally be the finale, Chavarria had one last trick up his sleeve – an Adidas collaboration. The two created what will surely be the biggest sellers of the runway presentation with the athletic brand’s signature three-stripe logo featuring on wide-legged trousers, neon ruffled tops, and oversized jerseys. For their partnership the two also brought back the archival Jabbar sneaker, created especially for Kareem Abdul Jabbar. But while basketball might have played a role in the sportswear segment, it was track and field that closed the night. Noah Lyles, fresh off his success at the Paris Olympics, was the surprise last look. The track star, signed with Adidas, wore barely-there shorts, the better to showcase his physique. Talk about a gold medal win.
Photography courtesy of Willy Chavarria.
