Portuguese footwear takes center stage at Willy Chavarria’s Paris runway show

 

Newsletter #January 2026

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Portuguese footwear takes center stage at Willy Chavarria’s Paris runway show

­ Portuguese footwear was in the spotlight at Willy Chavarria’s latest runway show, presented during Paris Fashion Week. The footwear collection was developed in collaboration with the Portuguese industry, bringing together Luis Onofre (women’s footwear) and Mariano Shoes (men’s footwear), with the support of APICCAPS. The collection was designed in-house by Chavarria’s team and produced in Portugal in the scope of BioShoes4All project. “I wanted the footwear collection to feel very signature in the colors I used — very chic, but also very commercial,” the designer explained. “I really want a commercial response to this range. The rollout will be similar to when I started with bags, going to market through select specialty stores and direct-to-consumer, allowing the business to grow naturally.” Women’s styles include the Furia, featuring sculpted heels that appear to wrap around the toes, and the Pepa, a classic pump reimagined through a variety of shearling treatments. Production is carried out in partnership with APICCAPS and two Portuguese factories, one dedicated to men’s footwear and the other to women’s. “We have a men’s factory and a women’s factory that we are using in Portugal, and it’s working out well,” Chavarria noted. “This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to valuing artisanal craftsmanship, while exploring new frontiers in contemporary design”, Willy says. ­ Willy Chavarria’s Fall/Winter 2026 collection was presented as a powerful, cinematic spectacle, filling the Paris Judo Arena with an atmosphere inspired by New York City. Fashion, emotion and social consciousness converged in a show that moved seamlessly between tailoring, sportswear, streetwear and formalwear, showcasing the full creative range of the designer — from the BIG WILLY line to made-to-measure couture dresses. “Love isn’t just affection or good intentions; it’s the act of keeping one another safe, seen, and respected. To protect someone is to value their well-being, their boundaries and their future. It means creating space where they can grow without fear and standing guard over what matters most: human dignity,” Chavarria stated. According to Paulo Gonçalves, executive director of APICCAPS, the collaboration reflects a forward-looking market vision: “In our collaboration with Willy Chavarria, we see a disruptive market perspective and a clear, successful vision that deserves further exploration. The Portuguese footwear industry exports over 90% of its production and regularly collaborates with leading designers and brands worldwide.” Chavarria also highlights New York as a constant source of inspiration: “I live in New York City, street level, corner apartment, big windows. There’s barely any separation between the city outside and the world inside my home. I think there. I watch people — rushing to work, meeting on corners, kissing goodbye, arguing, falling in love, falling apart. All of us under the same sun, the same moon, sharing the same universe.”

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