Willy Chavarria turned a pair of Nike Air Force 1s into cowboy boots at the Fall Show
Willy Chavarria showcased his Fall ’22 “Uncut” menswear collection at an off-schedule show Friday night. The New York-based designer took over the Prince George Ballroom near Madison Square Park for the show, which also included a surprise collaboration with Nike.
For this special footwear collaboration, the designer, whose daily work is SVP of Design at Calvin Kleinteamed up with Nike and sneaker modifier 08:31 on a pair of Air Force 1s he reinterpreted in cowboy boots. The modified Air Force 1 will not be available at retail, however.
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For Chavarria, working with Nike was part of his vision for the collection. “Throughout the collection, we see hints of classic American iconography, often carried by budding or recent immigrants and first-generation Americans as a way to connect with that American dream,” Chavarria told FN. backstage after his show. “Nike is one of those brands that some immigrants also gravitate to and consider ‘very American’. Nike equals American.
Courtesy of Willy Chavarria
Telling immigrant stories is always a consistent message in Chavarria’s collections.
For Fall 2022, as the designer aimed to tell the story of the Latinx movement in Mexico City, New York and Los Angeles. “Across these distances we cannot be divided,” the designer’s exhibit notes read. “Despite the political and geographical distances, we cannot be separated. We are not cut off from our brothers and sisters around the world.
Dickies was another American brand Chavarria worked with this season. This is the seventh time the two have teamed up.
In this collection, the original Dickies The work shirt becomes a centerpiece with oversized shoulders in tandem with the Eisenhower jacket reworked to feature monstrous sleeves, and the classic 874 work pant comes with a higher waist and a flared, wider leg.
Besides Dickies and Nike, other bold shapes are complemented by rich wools worked by American Woolen Company. Once the largest woolen mill in the world, the American Woolen Company has persevered to maintain its skills and history through the rise of synthetic fibers and the evolution of the manufacturing industry toward moving largely out of the United States.
Chavarria also experimented with new fabrics for this season. Sequins and latex interact with houndstooth to create a fresh, modern feel as traditional workwear styles are maximized and in new fabrications.
As for the possibility of launching his own line of shoes, Chavarria said, “I really want to make my own shoes, but when the time is right. Never say never.”
Selwyn Tungol
Launch the gallery: Willy Chavarria Men’s Collection Fall 2022
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