2 min readToday, Zara announced its latest designer collaboration with the New York-based Willy Chavarria. The news comes after a huge year for Chavarria, who decamped his menswear show to Paris two seasons ago and has since expanded his womenswear and accessories collections (not to mention his recent collaboration with the ACLU and an ongoing partnership with Adidas).
The designer’s new Zara collection includes both men’s and women’s and has been designed as an extension of his namesake label–exaggerated tailoring, colorful pussybow blouses, cropped workwear-inspired jackets, boxy cotton dresses, and slouchy denim. Gold statement jewelry, sharp day bags, and pastel slingback kitten heels are in the mix, too. Launching on March 26th in a special New York pop-up and across selected stores globally, as well as online, Chavarria has titled his Zara offering “Vatísimo,” which is a romanticized form of “vato,” meaning friends, partners, and loved ones in the Chicano culture.
Chavarria worked with Glen Luchford on a campaign film for Vatisimo, starring Christy Turlington and actor Alberto Guerra, and inspired by classic Mexican telenovelas. The brief film features heated arguments, an intense card game, a woman ripping off her pearl necklace, and a poolside throwdown, with Chavarria’s clothes in their own starring roles. “I wanted it to be very chic but also dramatic to the point of humorous,” Chavarria said. “My starting point for the collection was my Mexican American upbringing.”
He spent his career working behind-the-scenes as a designer for brands like Joe Boxer, later becoming the SVP of design at Calvin Klein until 2024. He once ran his own Americana-inspired vintage store, which also had an in-house line, before launching the Willy Chavarria label in 2015. In 2024 and 2025, Chavarria was awarded the Menswear Designer of the Year by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Through his emotionally driven, cinematic shows and campaigns, Chavarria has given his communities a platform, using fashion, photography, and film to openly speak about Chicano and LGBTQ+ experiences, immigration, freedom of speech, and love in all its forms.
By designing a collection for Zara, Chavarria can expand his reach and amplify his messages of inclusion and hope. “Zara gave me the opportunity to reach people in a much broader, more democratic way,” the designer noted. “Ultimately, I wanted to share the brand with a wider audience at more accessible price points, while still maintaining a high level of quality. I want to continue to convey the message of joy and all that influenced me to bring Willy Chavarria to life.”
Below, here’s a first look at Chavarria and Zara’s Vatísimo collection.