Willy Chavarria Joins ACLU as First Fashion Designer Artist Ambassador, Using Platform to Support LGBTQ+ and Immigrant Rights
Breaking barriers and making history, Willy Chavarria has officially become the first fashion designer to join the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) as an Artist Ambassador. With a strong commitment to social justice and human dignity, Chavarria will use his platform to support the ACLU’s advocacy for LGBTQ+ and immigrant rights.
Chavarria joins the ranks of other notable figures, such as actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson and culinary personality Padma Lakshmi, who have partnered with the ACLU to protect the rights and freedoms of all individuals.
“Art, music, and fashion have the power to bring about real change and promote social justice and human dignity. I am honored to use my platform to empower others,” Chavarria stated in a statement to WWD.
This news comes on the heels of Chavarria’s recent SS26 runway show in Paris, which made a powerful statement against US President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. The show opened with a commentary on the inhumane conditions at immigrant detention centers, with models dressed in white uniforms sitting in line formation with their heads down.
In addition, Chavarria also released a collaboration with the Human Rights Campaign and Tinder, featuring the “How we love is who we are” graphic tees from his FW25 presentation. This further solidifies his commitment to using fashion as a means of promoting social justice and human rights.
Chavarria’s FW25 Paris debut also served as a platform for protest, with a recording of Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde’s critical sermon for Trump’s inauguration playing during the final walk. The sermon pleaded for the president’s “mercy” on immigrants and queer people.
After being announced as part of the ACLU’s Creatives for Freedom campaign in April, Chavarria stated, “In this moment, more than ever, our actions and words must be a means of protecting human dignity and our human rights. We must come together to show that we are not divided. The ACLU plays a crucial role in guiding us towards preserving and protecting democracy.”
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