“The message is global,” said Willy Chavarria backstage at his fall 2025 show at the American Cathedral in Paris, his debut in the city and on the men’s collections schedule. That “message” was Chavarria’s more-crucial-than-ever stance on diversity, of “human dignity and equality,” as he continued after the show.
Chavarria has made a name for himself in New York for his particular and irresistible take on American sportswear—those spread shirting collars, generously cut trousers, and sharply tailored shoulders. But it’s also the wearers, Willy’s muses, who have made his shows an unmissable spectacle. Chavarria is known to street cast his shows, working with casting director Brent Chua to fill his runways with everyone from delivery drivers and boxers to famous models and rappers. When the time came to make the jump to Paris, the question of casting occurred: What is “the Willy take” on that city?
“I came three days early to Paris just to street cast because I wanted to get those kids that are not seen in Paris,” Chavarria said. “We are used to seeing all those same very beautiful people on these runways, but I wanted the kids I like, the ones who move your furniture and art and deliver your food.” Chua and his team made the trip with Chavarria, and they got to work scouting across every neighborhood from Le Marais to Barbès and Pigalle and everything in between. “Brent and his team are great; they will see somebody running with a FedEx envelope and send me a picture on the spot,” Chavarria said with a laugh.
Except that he wasn’t joking. This show in Paris featured completely new faces in addition to Chavarria’s recurring cast, such as muse Erik “Chachi” Martinez, who opened the show, and models Paloma Elsesser and Lineisy Montero. Chavarria also invited a cast of superstars to amplify his message: Becky G, Ozuna, Danny Ramirez, Indya Moore, Honey Dijon, Tokischa and J Balvin walked the show; the latter also performed. “We have some friends who I think have really important messaging in their own art and it’s very emotional to me to have them do the show because they know the power of what I’m… we, are trying to say here,” said Chavarria. “They wanted to be a part of it, of an expression of resistance against oppression for, specifically, queer and trans people, women, and immigrants.” He continued, “They’ve all come together in his moment to not only look fierce and be beautiful, but to amplify this message and take it on. Their voice is louder than mine.” But they’re louder together, which continues to be the true Willy take, wherever he is: There’s strength in numbers.
Scroll through for a look at Willy Chavarria’s fall 2025 casting in Paris.
