Jon Stojan
Image credit: Arun Nevader
Albanian supermodel and social media phenomenon Elton Ilirjani aka HANKO has amassed 12 million followers worldwide for his freedom of expression and for shaking up the fashion world with his trailblazing style.
Originally from Albania, Elton is dedicated to speaking up for equality, human rights, and fairness throughout America and the world, both with his modeling work and his corporation, The HeadHunter Karriera LLC, which has offices in 15 countries globally.
Elton is known for his fashion sense and for supporting independent fashion designers. A trailblazer of genderless modeling down the runway, Elton is known throughout the international fashion scene. He has walked for some of the most cutting-edge fashion designers at global fashion weeks in Seoul, Tokyo, Milan, Paris, and New York.
Image credit: Arun Nevader
He recently walked a runway show for Albanian fashion label Ema Savahl, whose latest collection was unveiled as part of Miami Swim Week, The Shows. It was part of Project Zed on December 5 at DUA Miami, Autograph Collection in Miami’s Brickell district.
Ema Savahl was founded in 1996 by Ema Koja, and brings a strong sense of artistry and craftsmanship to stylish garments that incorporate handcrafted details. The brand has since been worn by celebrities like Katy Perry and Jennifer Lopez.
Elton and Ema met through a mutual friend, Alda Bida, who runs The Miss Globe Beauty Pageant in Tirana. “I never met Ema before, but was introduced to her through Alda, who wanted us to collaborate,” he said. “Even knowing her just a few months before the runway show, the connection was immediate; the Albanian origin played an important role.”
Elton wore a handcrafted garment depicting leaves with green gemstones and patterns, accompanied by a green skirt cape, heels and long threads of fabric hanging from his fingertips.
“The concept of this runway show is what made it special for me,” said Elton. “Ema is a pure artist; she isn’t just a fashion designer. She is a painter and a poet with colours, fabrics and shapes. She wanted to bring the chakras to fashion and she did it well.”
Image credit: Arun Nevader
He adds: “She has courage to break new boundaries in fashion, and this is a special part of collaborating with her; she has the courage to show a brave new collection of couture, fuelled by positive energy, inspiration and is a celebration of mother earth.”
The new Ema Savahl collection featured fairytale-inspired pieces that pay tribute to mother earth. Koja is a fashion designer who hand-paints artwork onto garments like corsets, bodysuits and cocktail dresses, adding a unique, three-dimensional touch to her collections.
The runway show was held as part of Miami Swim Week, The Shows at Dua Miami, Autograph Collection, which were proud to present Project Zed during Miami Art Week 2024. It was part of the fourth annual Project Zed, a celebration of culture, art design and sustainability with fashion shows, art installations and art exhibitions.
Image credit: Arun Nevader
This isn’t the first time Elton stole the show in Miami, as he first debuted a fashion protest alongside the House of Mua Mua in 2022, and has since walked for designers like Malan Breton at Paris Fashion Week and Greedelious at Seoul Fashion Week.
“Miami is the city of the sun for me,” he said. “The light is so different, and the culture is varied and diverse. Presenting such a stylish couture collection with Ema Savahl was a pure privilege. Miami is growing as a global fashion destination and I’m so happy to be part of it.”
Follow Elton Ilirjani on Instagram at @Eilirjani.
Photos by Arun Nevader.
Image credit: Arun Nevader