Could Willy Chavarria go to Fendi? That's what the rumors say
The calm of the past few months within the fashion system seemed forced, completely out of sync with the chaos behind the scenes over the past year and a half. A flurry of creative director changes so sudden that it began to be called “fashion’s musical chairs”. And then nothing (or more or less) for a few months; complete stillness, until a few weeks ago, when the announcement of Demna at Gucci, the departure of Maria Grazia Chiuri from Dior, and the unexpected exit of Risso from Marni got the carousel spinning again. Among the latest developments is also the name Fendi, which, according to WWD, has reportedly entered preliminary talks with Willy Chavarria, an American designer of Mexican descent known for his highly personal style and the political impact of his collections. His name had already surfaced during the January shows, when he presented in Paris a coed collection celebrating ten years of his brand, widely praised for its ability to merge theatrical tailoring, queer codes, and references to Latin culture.
Since last October, when Kim Jones officially stepped down as creative director of Fendi’s womenswear collections, the maison has begun exploring several options for the future. Among the names reportedly considered were John Galliano, Pierpaolo Piccioli, Maria Grazia Chiuri, and Francesco Risso, who recently exited Marni. Nothing has been confirmed yet, and the negotiation with Chavarria seems to be in its early stages, but the idea of considering such a profile is somewhat surprising, given how radical and political Chavarria’s tone of voice is. What would a collaboration between such a creative vision and a historic LVMH brand look like? Until anything is confirmed, Silvia Venturini Fendi will continue to oversee menswear and accessories, and will also design the upcoming coed show for the SS 2026 season, scheduled for September during Milan Fashion Week. Major changes seem to be on the horizon for the centenary of the Roman Maison.
To get a sense of where fashion’s creative direction currently stands, check out our Creative Directors Guide.