Willy Chavarria SS25 América
MATTE unveiled Willy Chavarria’s SS25 collection, titled “América”, in a show located at the historic home of J.P. Morgan. This now-neglected monument stares directly at the New York Stock Exchange Building, offering both an iconic backdrop and a powerful socio-political commentary that mirrors the themes of Chavarria’s largest show to date – a show that centers around those “[laboring] in the fields, bringing food to our tables, building our cities, making our music, and weaving stories into the fabric of this land.”
MATTE crafted an immersive experience from guest arrival, to show, to an exclusive after-party, merging set design, experiential production, content capture, live-stream and event management.
Client
Willy Chavarria
Year
2024
AMÉRICA NOT
AMERICA
Spatial Design
The SS25 show included two parts, with spatial design that followed suit to distinguish each collection. Both Part One and Part Two used light to define the space, switching between hues to both compliment and accentuate the runways looks. Spatial design went beyond the runway bringing the América theme straight to Wall Street with a branded flag and window take over. Upon entering the space, guests were greeted with a stark but impactful area that showcased Don Julio and ambiance in line with Willy’s debuting collections.
COLLABORATIONS
ADIDAS
ALLEN EDMONDS
DON JULIO
“FOR IN THE EYES OF GOD, WE ARE ALL ONE PEOPLE DESERVING OF DIGNITY AND GRACE.”
Part One
Part One is inspired by the contours of cathedrals. The set carves out a holy space within the detritus of a Wall Street monument, accompanied by a backdrop of orchestral sounds. This evokes a sense of both decay and renewal, capturing the delicate balance between tradition and modernity. Dramatic lighting highlights the space's architectural features, casting long shadows and creating a play of light and dark.
Part Two
Part II—featuring the collaboration between Willy Chavarria and Adidas—is inspired by counter-culture spaces. Heavy haze, red lights from above, and techno music transport guests below the surface. This transition from the sacred and solemn atmosphere of Part I to the edgier, grittier vibe of Part II symbolizes a shift from tradition to rebellion. The dynamic lighting and pulsating beats energize the space, highlighting the bold, avant-garde designs and urban aesthetic of the collection, creating a stark and exciting contrast to the first segment.
Adidas Collab
Back Of House
As seen in Vogue and Highsnobiety, Willy Chavarria and Adidas collaborated to bring the worlds of both brands onto the runway. Willy Chavarria nuanced classic silhouettes from the Adidas catalogue with elevation, authenticity and originality at the forefront.
LIVE FROM AMÉRICA
Behind The Scenes Content Capture
MATTE’S continuing partnership with Willy has been an illumination on his deep personal relationships with both models and the teams that help get them to the runway; something we wanted to showcase behind-the-scenes as a true indication of Willy’s inspiration and dedication to his brand ethos. Willy is someone who truly walks the walk, bringing in street-casted talent time and again, looking to their families and loved ones for additional talent and investing in their success as much as his own. Alongside his personal dedication to each look, Willy devotes time and emotional connection to each talent despite the back stage chaos.
From intimate moments of models preparing, the precision of last-minute fittings and tailoring, to the artistry of hair and makeup, every detail was documented. Willy’s interactions with the team, the buzz of anticipation, and the palpable excitement leading up to the show painted a vivid portrait of the creative process in motion, which for Willy, means knowing and supporting those that do the same for him.
After Party
In celebration of the show, MATTE paid homage to the themes shown on the runway by bathing the space in red. For one night, the space transformed into a sexy sultry club filled with music by Eli Escobar and Marco Neves.
MATTE Partner
Max Pollack
Group Client Director
Lennon Chuang
Client Manager
Akua Kwakwa
Lead Set & Experiential Designer
Noel Yves Zheng
Set & Experiential Designer
Rada Singhasaneh
Creative Director
Tori Arcuri
Kelsey Daharb
Head of Experiential
Thad Somoza
Lead Producer
Aim Wagemans
Head of Film & Content
Mark Day
Director of Production
Spencer Thompson
Producer
Seana Bruff
Production Manager
Raine Shank
Director of Photography
John Carlo Serrano
Photographer
Wojciech Christopher Nowak
Andy Zalkin
Camera Operator
Kenneth Keeler
Luis Romero
Steadicam
Juan Puentes
DIT
Pierce Wilson
1st AC
Casey Stack
Connor Williams
Isabel Padilla
Chris Consoli
2nd AC
Jackson Parks
Tyler Simpson
PA/Driver
Eric Jimenez
Fergie Philippe
Post Production Services By
MATTE Finish
Senior Director of Post Production
Mike Czeizinger
Post Production Manager
Caro Fortuna
Video Editor
Lucas Lobe
Erin Grant
Assistant Editor
Xavier Coleman
Composer
Marco Neves
Color
Houmam Abdallah
Press
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