Willy Chavarria Brings the Barrio to Paris for an “Eterno” FW26 Runway Riot

Paris Fashion Week FW26 didn’t just witness a runway — it stopped traffic.

With “Eterno,” Willy Chavarria transformed his Paris venue into a pulsing urban crosswalk, dragging the barrio straight into the heart of France. Latin rhythms collided with waves of models, musicians, and performers, blurring the line between fashion show, street protest, and high-drama telenovela. The result? One of the loudest, proudest, and most emotionally charged shows of the season.

Anchoring the spectacle was a stacked lineup of live performers — Mon Laferte, Lunay, Mahmood, Feid, Santos Bravos, Lil Mr. E, and Latin Mafia — whose choreography dictated the pace and mood of the runway. Each act ushered in a new chapter of the collection, reinforcing Chavarria’s refusal to separate fashion from culture, identity, or politics.

Slimmer Silhouettes, Sharper Intent

After Mon Laferte’s opening performance, Chavarria set the tone with a surprising pivot: slim, brooding tailoring. Known for his oversized, exaggerated proportions, the designer instead led with straight-leg trousers, precision-cut blazers, and moody outerwear. Gone were last season’s candy-colored brocades — replaced by restraint, tension, and quiet power, underscored by performances from Lunay and Mahmood.

But austerity didn’t last long.

Slowly, Chavarria began to crack the facade with flashes of plush leopard, snake prints, and jolts of pink, cobalt, yellow, and red — reintroducing sensuality and swagger without sacrificing discipline. When Lil Mr. E hit the stage, the show swerved hard into West Coast territory: lowriders rolled in, flanked by crews dressed in “Big Willy” workwear, bomber jackets, and hoodies that felt ripped straight from the streets.

Sportswear, Spectacle, and Identity

Momentum surged as Santos Bravos followed in freshly minted adidas Originals tracksuits and sportswear, cementing Chavarria’s ongoing dialogue with athletic codes and street uniforms. Models carried footballs, sporting bold Chavarria #1 adidas jerseys and debuting new collaborative sneakers — a reminder that fashion, for Chavarria, is lived in motion.

As Feid and Latin Mafia closed the performance lineup, the collection took an elegant turn. Minimal cocktail dresses, fluid drapery, and refined tailoring softened the chaos, culminating in a series of gowns that nodded to classic couture. One standout shimmered with gold embellishment at the front, trailing into a dramatic pink cape — theatrical, emotional, unforgettable.

“Protection Is Love”

Willy Chavarria | Paris Fashion Week

True to form, Chavarria closed the show in solidarity with his models, emerging together in a unified bow. His message was simple and unmistakable, stamped across a statement tee: “Protection is Love.”

The phrase felt less like branding and more like a manifesto.

With “Eterno,” Willy Chavarria delivered a runway that doubled as a declaration. Queerness, Latinidad, California roots — none were diluted, none compromised. Instead, they were amplified, celebrated, and weaponized as creative strength.

The show wasn’t just one of the most energetic moments of Paris Fashion Week FW26 — it marked a confident evolution of a designer who refuses to edit himself for anyone.

And Paris felt it.

FASHIONADO