Miami Art Week has traditionally been a time for the celebration of visual art, and now, fashion.
The annual celebration every December caters to culture far and wide, including runway shows in Miami.
Renowned Albanian model and influencer, Elton Ilirjani, known by his stage name Hanko, is renowned as a runway model who has graced prestigious fashion weeks in global fashion capitals such as Milan, Paris, New York, Seoul, and Tokyo. He most recently strutted down the catwalk of the Influencers Global Awards on December 8 at the prestigious Eden Roc Hotel in Miami.
Elton is known for walking the runway for designers like Malan Breton, Greedelious, MMAM, BESFXXK, House of Mua Mua and Maison Nica, among several others globally, and next up, he will walk fashion weeks in 2025 in Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul.
In Miami, Elton wore an outfit by Ema Savahl Couture, a fashion brand known for blending artistry into their fashion creations, effectively bridging the divide between fashion and art. Ema Koja, an esteemed fashion designer from Albania, is the creative force behind the brand.
During the Influencers Awards Global 2024, Ilirjani wore a dress that Koja designed back in 2014. Known as the “Cage Dress,” Koja revealed that its creation was a personal reflection of a challenging time in her life. “Amidst a divorce, I sought liberation, which inspired the concept behind the dress,” Koja explained. “The design features a structured, cage-like pattern overlaying a delicate butterfly top, symbolizing metamorphosis.”
Elton made a grand entrance and was the only solo performer to take the stage at the event. With soundtrack-like music, he walked out onto the runway, expanding his arms. He then proceeded to rip off the dress from his chest down to his belly button to expose a pink butterfly-like corset, signalling a personal transformation.
Ilirjani and Koja joined forces to showcase the merged worlds of art and fashion. Ilirjani expresses his admiration for fashion designers who are deeply involved in the creative process.
He finds working with hands-on designer-artists the most fulfilling because of their unwavering creative zeal that transcends mere commercial interests. In Ilirjani’s discerning view, fashion designers can be categorized into two distinct groups—those driven by artistry and those focused on commercial appeal.
He clearly distinguishes his preference for partnering with concept designers, whom he regards as the vanguards of fashion innovation and originality, over commercial-driven designers who prioritize mass appeal and commercial success.
Expressing her intention for the garment, Koja emphasized, “I aimed to embody a sense of personal reinvention, symbolizing liberation and self-expression – a metaphorical Phoenix reborn from adversity.”
Follow @eilirjani on Instagram. Photos by Arun Nevader.
