Willy Chavarria does not do compromise. As he reimagines the iconic UGG, the designer discusses biker culture, friends of the brand and hotel slippers.

Willy Chavarria never shies away from contrasts, so it only made sense that the designer would give UGG, the brand known for its cosy styles and sheepskin boots, a makeover in leather. Inspired by the biker communities Chavarria grew up around in California, the collection reworks familiar UGG silhouettes through the New York-based designer’s visual language, introducing unisex leather boots, clogs and a hotel slipper alongside a more traditional UGG style boot.

The collaboration comes with a starry campaign titled “UGG and Kisses” inspired by 90s shows, where a contemporary latino family played Becky G, Eva Longoria, Danny Trejo and Ivan Cornejo wear the collab shoes, with footwear that first debuted on the brand’s Spring/Summer 2027 “Comunión” show during Paris Fashion Week, worn by Romeo Beckham.

Ahead of the release, we spoke to Chavarria about Law Roach, Tyra Banks, hotel slippers, the biker culture behind the collection, working with UGG, his approach to casting and the people he’d still like to see wearing his designs. 

This collaboration flips the idea of UGG by adding that tough edge. What is another everyday item that you think should be redone in leather too?
Underwear.

Casting feels central to your collections and campaigns. What made you choose Becky G, Danny Trejo, Eva Longoria and Ivan Cornejo for this campaign?
Casting is very central to all of our projects because our designs always start with how we are feeling and an idea of the people and characters we are designing for. Creating this collection was interesting because the idea for the campaign and the designs were concurrent.

We pictured our childhood homes, so Eva Longoria and Becky G – who I’m blessed to call friends – came to mind instantly when thinking “family.” The cast reflects the juxtaposition of the soft and strong in this collaboration, showing that the dichotomy doesn’t necessarily indicate opposites. Danny Trejo is fierce and considerate; Eva Longoria is powerful and nurturing; Becky G is vivacious and kind; Ivan has such a powerful voice while being soft spoken. The film depicts a quintessentially American setting through the lens of a Latino family, which is not the typical point of view in mainstream culture.

Romeo Beckham was the first person to wear the collab on your runway. Why did you want him to be the one to debut them?
Romeo Beckham is another person we are lucky to call a friend of the brand. We met for the first time in January when he walked our Fall show, and he meshed in with the rest of the cast and our team so seamlessly. His cool and confident look is such a contrast to how gentle and sweet he is, and this aura made him the perfect person to unveil the designs created with UGG.

We just watched you in Project Runway. If you had to give Law Roach a pair from the collection, which one would you put him in and why? And Tyra Banks?
Let them pick! I would never tell Law or Tyra what to wear.

In all seriousness, I would love to see Law in the Guard Boot. He has such a big presence and elegant posture, so the effect of the boots would be stark on him.

For Tyra, I would choose the Relaxed boot or Hotel Chavarria Slipper. The Relaxed boot because it’s the closest silhouette to UGG’s icon for a fellow icon. The Hotel Slipper because I want her to feel pampered.

What is it about biker culture that inspires you?
We grew up seeing bikers because California is the birthplace of American outlaw motorcycle culture and it is a very distinct form of expression in Chicano culture. Both the bikers and the bikes are so wonderfully powerful and expressive, and they are driven by their commitment to their communities. The Aztec Rebels – an amazing Mexican motorcycle club from the Bronx – are family oriented and create a space for themselves where they can be heard and understood. This environment of individuality, creativity, a firm sense of self, loyalty and community is certainly something that we recognize at Willy Chavarria.

What excited you about the prospect of collaborating with UGG?
Bringing a Willy Chavarria perspective to a globally established brand like UGG is always a creative challenge because we are working with indisputable icons. Transforming the surfer heritage to a Willy Chavarria biker was an exciting task, and we were so impressed with UGG’s collaborative nature and expertise in bringing the visions to life. We actually ended up designing more pieces than we had initially planned on, which the team luckily loved, and we were able to execute a few more designs for the collection.

What made you want to create a hotel slipper?
The hotel slipper was one of the designs that were added to production upon seeing the wider collection initially conceptualised. Its addition to the capsule rounds out a wider range of what personal style can look like. While the boots are more obvious for a biker, the reinterpretation of an elegant slipper for that same biker allows them to place themselves in a new but still authentic look, whether paired with tailoring or leather shorts.

Is there anyone else you’d love to see wearing them that you haven’t dressed yet?
I’m excited to see them on people I don’t know. I’m always surprised and flattered to see my designs in the wild, and it makes me wonder who they are as people and what brought them to my brand or a specific project.

Where do you hope to spot someone wearing your UGG collab?
On the street! I love to see people wearing our designs in real life. I love that we have a silent connection.