Willy Chavarria has been honored with this year’s National Award for Fashion Design by the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York.
The awards, which were launched back in 2000 with the White House Millennium Council, are reserved for those creatives who have shown “innovation and impact” in their work. Others selected as winners among the 2022 class include Nader Tehrani, Emily Adams Bode, Felecia Davis, and more.
While the general public participates in the nomination process, ultimate winners are chosen by a jury comprised of various leaders in the design field. This year’s jury was chaired by Marlon Blackwell, a National Academy of Design Academician.
Chavarria is currently fresh off the launch of his NFT membership project Big Willy Love Club, which saw the designer partnering with Bubblehouse. In comments to Complex about the ambitions of the club, Chavarria described it as a “new dimension” for his namesake brand.
“It’s a door to a more intimate experience with me as the creator and some of the special projects created with my team,” Chavarria said. “It’s a new playground where we can create and release project for our global family.”
Once someone joins the club, per Willy, seats will be given away for the brand’s upcoming runway show, set for Sept. 14. As for any additional inspiration at the heart of the private NFT club, Chavarria pointed to a desire to share some “more adult-driven content” in the future.
Last September, Willy Chavarria’s Spring/Summer 2022 show was highlighted by Complex as being among the best of the then-current NYFW festivities.
