Willy Chavarria is setting his sights on a global stage with his latest collaboration with Zara. Titled “VATISIMO,” the project positions the designer’s eponymous label, long rooted in weaving Chicano cultural identity, for a wider, international audience. 

The name VATISMO traces back to the superlative form of “vato,” which is “a colloquial term used in the Chicano community to refer to friends, partners, homies, and loved ones,” says the press statement. “The name celebrates friendship, camaraderie, and love; it speaks to personal bonds, the pride of belonging to a community, and the power of roots.”

Across men’s and women’s wardrobes, Chavarria leans into his signature styles: crisp silhouettes, precise tailoring, and bold, preppy hues. For men, wide-leg khaki and cream shorts, voluminous slacks, and Cuban-heeled leather loafers define the offering. A thread of American workwear runs through the collection, seen in short-sleeved style shirts in raw-edged cupro and leathered belts and bags. 

On the women’s side, floral bow-tie tops, lace dresses, pencil skirts, and shoulder-padded blazers nod to Chavarria’s strong silhouettes. Red rose motifs bloom across polo skirts and shirts, a recurring emblem in Chavarria’s visual lexicon. Romantic yet grounded, the pieces reframe everyday staples into something distinctly sharp and personal, through a lens that is at once personal and culturally resonant.

Elsewhere, the campaign continues to foreground Latin American influence. Directed by Glen Luchford and Chavarria, the film taps into the heightened drama of telenovelas, unfolding inside a cinematic mansion inspired by retro Mexico City. 

Starting March 26, the debut capsule will land in select stores and online.