Introduction to Willy Chavarria’s Brand Expansion

New York designer Willy Chavarria, who left New York to walk the Paris runways in 2024, has taken the next step in establishing his brand as a global player by securing a minority stake from Middle Eastern luxury retail operator Chalhoub Group. The total investment was not disclosed.

Background and Previous Investments

Chavarria founded his eponymous brand in 2015 after working at New York brands like Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein, and has since grown the Willy Chavarria label into an emerging powerhouse. The Chalhoub investment is not Chavarria’s first capital injection. In 2024, the designer secured funding from FAE Fashion Ventures, the investment arm of entertainment company First Access Entertainment (FAE). This was not announced at the time.

Partnership and Investment Goals

"The timing of our partnerships with FAE Group and later Chalhoub Group was both strategic and necessary. FAE and Chalhoub Group played an important role in our ability to increase global consumer reach and revenue growth," says Chavarria. “Key priorities include strengthening our core functions and infrastructure to support accelerated revenue growth.”
“We are pleased to welcome Chalhoub Group to Willy Chavarria’s board to bring their expertise in scaling growth companies,” said a representative of FAE Fashion Ventures, in a statement. “The fusion of retail, brand experience and cultural expression across all areas of art will create a blueprint for forward-thinking fashion brands.”

Chalhoub Group’s Investment History and Goals

It is also not the Chalhoub Group’s first investment. The group, which is the largest retail operator in the Middle East and works with more than 300 international brands in the region, has previously invested in companies such as UK-based personal shopping and styling platform Threads Styling in 2022 and French tableware brand Christofle in 2017, and launched its own brands including Level Shoes. Additionally, the company has partnered with companies such as eyewear group EssilorLuxottica JV and OTB Group (which includes Jil Sander, Maison Margiela and Marni) to expand its brand presence in the Gulf region.
Chalhoub Group’s (and FAE) investment is not just about expanding Chavarria’s reach in the Middle East. Rather, the goals include strengthening the brand’s global retail presence through expansion into key markets including Europe and Asia; supporting a variety of new projects; and help realize Chavarria’s long-term vision.

Recent Activities

Chavarria on the set of his BTS shoot with a fashion brand before his final New York Fashion Week show in 2024.