Liz DeFluri
January 24, 2026
Trailblazing Hispanic and Latinx designers are redefining fashion by weaving their heritage into stunning and innovative lines that blend traditional cultural influences with contemporary aesthetics and materials.
WILLY CHAVARRIA
Willy Chavarria is a groundbreaking queer Hispanic fashion designer who launched his eponymous brand in 2015. Chavarria was born to a Mexican father and an Irish descent mother in a small California town called Huron.
While attending the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Chavarria broke into the fashion industry while working part-time in the shipping department of the loungewear brand Joe Boxer. Chavarria spent time after hours sketching and designing his own clothing. His sketches ultimately secured him an internship with Joe Boxer’s founder, Nicholas Graham, which eventually evolved into a designer role for the company.
Soon after launching his namesake label, Chavarria gained recognition in the fashion industry and beyond for his unique interpretation of menswear. He takes pride in his migrant and working-class roots, and frequently incorporates them and themes such as race, politics, and sexuality into elegant apparel.
In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Chavarria said, “My brand is rooted in awareness. I am both political and living in my approach to design. I do not follow trends or look at other designers. I create from the heart, and I share with the world a way to see ourselves as good.”
ADRIANA FONSECA
Adriana Fonseca is a Mexican-American designer from Los Angeles, California. Now based in New York City, Fonseca runs her slow-fashion brand, emphasizing the sustainable use of materials such as layered and texturized dead-stock fabric to create unique silhouettes.
Each of Fonseca’s pieces is hand-sewn, made to order, and developed with a personal touch. When asked about what she takes into consideration when sourcing fabrics in an interview with Tumbao World, she stated, “I strictly source deadstock fabric, which has its pros and cons. It does get tricky when I find the right color, but not the right fabric, or the right fabric, and not the right color, or worse, when I find both, but there’s not enough fabric left to buy outright.”
Fonseca remains positive and fueled by her passion for sustainability, despite facing difficulties around the realities of leading an environmentally friendly company. She said, “I like to think of it as a creative challenge rather than a hindrance when designing with a sustainably conscious brand.”
CHIARA & GIULIANA MACCHIAVELLO
ESCVDO is a fashion brand founded in 2013 by Peruvian sisters Chiara and Giuliana Macchiavello. The sisters’ profound passion for the rich history and culture of Peru inspired them to found their ethical luxury brand that upholds Peru’s rich textile traditions.
In 2014, ESCVDO made its debut at Copenhagen Fashion Week and the Biennale in Madrid. From there, the brand received national recognition from the City Council of Lima and the Andean Parliament in the New Entrepreneurship category. The brand’s mission statement is, “building a better future in fashion.” The sisters embody this mission by considering the wearers as they design. They are conscious of each person involved in the production chain and prioritize being respectful towards the environment.
The brand prides itself on employing over 350 artisans present in nine regions in Peru. The majority of ESCVDO’s workers are women, from rural areas, from low-income households, and/or are working to support their families. They also support fair trade and use fully traceable materials. The brand partners with several sustainable suppliers who ensure the materials are sourced ethically.
KRYSTAL PANIAGUA
Krystal Paniagua’s namesake knitwear brand is grounded in community, blurring the boundary between traditional craft and modern apparel.
Paniagua founded her brand in 2020 and creates work inspired by her Puerto Rican heritage. In an interview with Hyperbae Magazine, Paniagua stated, “My Puerto Rican upbringing has trained me to be curious, brave, and humble. I think my experience has given me the drive to constantly challenge my perspectives and adapt to my environment.”
Discussing her brand philosophy, Paniangua said, “The ethos of the brand is about the alternation of perspectives on one’s reality based on experience, the adaptation of self to those realities, and the state of uncertainty we are all experiencing today, and how we manage it. It’s about being able to express ourselves in a way that reflects the changes in our mental states. Our garments are transformable, adaptable to your mood, and allow for a change of expression that one experiences throughout the day.”
ByFonseca official site — byfonseca.comChiara Macchiavello feature on Forbes Peru — Forbes.pe (Sep 24, 2024)
https://forbes.pe/forbes-women/2024-09-24/chiara-macchiavello-la-disenadora-peruana-creadora-de-escvdo-es-premiada-durante-el-milan-fashion-weekEscvdo “Musa Maxi Dress” product page — Fashionkind
https://fashionkind.com/products/escvdo-musa-maxi-dress-blues?srsltid=AfmBOorywLzPxlFYx3d7Fmu37ykqpWMgcuUrduF4WXzsLOdF3QyL-oWx&variant=43432458977539Krystal Paniagua official site — krystalpaniagua.com
“The Magical Willy Chavarria” — Revista Harvard Review/DRCLAS
https://revista.drclas.harvard.edu/the-magical-willy-chavarria/“10 Hispanic‑Owned Brands We Live By” — Hypebae (Oct 15, 2022)
https://hypebae.com/2022/10/best-hispanic-owned-brands-fashion-designers-heritage-month-cruda-cueva-krystal-paniguaKrystal Paniagua Launches E‑Commerce Site With “Dynamic Essentials” Collection — Teen Vogue
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/krystal-paniagua-e-commerce-site-dynamic-essentials-collectionESCVDO official site — www.escvdo.com