Willy Chavarria x Zara Is a Fashion Telenovela
The New York-based Latino designer speaks about his bold and romantic collaboration, taking us back to 1980s Mexico City.
New York–based Latino designer Willy Chavarria is the latest creative to join Zara’s ever-expanding collaborative roster, delivering a collection rooted in culture, identity, and cinematic nostalgia. Following the buzz around John Galliano’s recent two-year link-up with the fast-fashion giant, Zara continues to widen its global lens — this time diving deep into the heightened emotion and dramatic visual language of classic Mexican telenovelas, set against the backdrop of retro Mexico City.
“I had a fantasy of a mansion in Mexico City, where a family with many dramatic issues lived. I was looking at American television drama series from the 1980s like “Dallas” and “Dynasty”, mixed with the Mexican telenovelas I grew up watching with my grandmother,” the designer tells Hypebeast. A world where melodrama meets memory and exaggerated storytelling translates into bold, expressive design becomes the foundation of Chavarria’s collection with Zara.
“We started this collection with the overall energy and concept of the campaign in mind: glamour and drama.” Titled “VATÍSIMO,” the campaign delivers pure “beauty, drama, humor,” Chavarria expands. “The campaign is inspired by the Mexican telenovelas my team and I watched growing up, and we designed for the characters, which is how we approach any design across mainline and collaborations.”
More than just a partnership, Willy Chavarria x Zara reads as a cultural statement: one that taps into the emotional weight of representation while celebrating the richness of Latino identity. The collection leans into transformation, both personal and stylistic, underscoring Chavarria’s ongoing mission to center heritage in contemporary fashion.
“VATISIMO is the superlative form of “vato,” a colloquial term used in the Chicano community to refer to friends, partners, homies, and loved ones. The name celebrates friendship, camaraderie, and love; it speaks to personal bonds, the pride of belonging to a community, and the power of roots.”
Visually, the offering stays true to Chavarria’s signature language — romantic yet commanding, elevated and grounded in streetwear. Tailoring takes on a bold, almost theatrical presence with exaggerated proportions and sharp structure, while staples like polos, hoodies, flannels, and denim are reworked through his distinct lens. On the womenswear side, bow-tied tops, sculpted bodysuits, and lace dresses bring softness and strength into balance, with unisex pieces blurring the lines entirely.
Glen Luchford
Glen Luchford
Glen Luchford
Glen Luchford
Glen Luchford
Glen Luchford
Glen Luchford
Glen Luchford
Glen Luchford
Glen Luchford
The result is a collection that feels both deeply personal and widely resonant. Chavarria’s narrative is told through clothing, where every piece could belong to a character in his imagined telenovela universe.
“I want [the Latino community] to feel seen. I want them to feel proud. There’s so much beauty in our communities, in our stories, and I think it’s important that we recognize that and celebrate it. The message is really about dignity and about knowing your value and carrying that with you.”
Willy Chavarria x Zara will launch on March 26 at 12 a.m. EST via Zara.
