Paris Fashion Week witnessed a powerful stride towards a more inclusive future today as supermodel Elton Ilirjani, also known as HANKO, graced the runway for Turkish brand Recep Demiray x Hatun Tekstil on October 2. His commanding presence at the Global Fashion Collective showcase at La Maison des Metallos underscored a growing movement to redefine beauty and representation in high fashion.
Ilirjani, an Albanian-American powerhouse and vocal genderless advocate, is renowned for transforming the runway into a performance art stage, using his entire being to convey emotion and artistry. His walk for Demiray and Hatun Tekstil wasn’t just a presentation of garments; it was a statement, furthering his mission to champion diversity and break traditional boundaries within the industry.
The collaboration brought together Recep Demiray, a designer celebrated for crafting personalized, elegant garments that capture “emotions and memories in their most elegant form,” with Hatun Tekstil, a Turkish fabric store with a Paris showroom known for its luxurious, innovative textiles. Demiray’s philosophy, emphasizing unique stories and making special occasions unforgettable, aligns seamlessly with the inclusive spirit Ilirjani embodies. Hatun Tekstil’s commitment to “where every thread tells a story of excellence” found a poignant echo in Ilirjani’s expressive performance.
The runway show, part of the Global Fashion Collective (GFC) showcase, provided the perfect international platform for this forward-thinking collaboration. GFC has a strong history of supporting over 200 designers from more than 35 countries, helping them gain global recognition and access new markets – a mission that resonates deeply with Ilirjani’s own commitment to emerging talent.
With over 12 million followers on Instagram, Ilirjani uses his formidable platform not only for fashion but also as a human rights activist. His journey into modeling began in 2019, catalyzed by his unique style and advocacy, quickly leading him to global runways from New York and Milan to London and Tokyo. Known for his dramatic openings and closings and an artistic approach that transcends a typical model’s walk, Ilirjani consistently supports independent, up-and-coming designers, reflecting his inclusive ethos. His visibility as the first publicly gay businessman in conservative Albania in 2016 further cemented his role as a trailblazer, paving the way for greater acceptance and representation.
This Paris Fashion Week appearance by Elton Ilirjani signifies a pivotal moment where high fashion actively embraces gender fluidity, diverse narratives, and the artistry of individual expression. As the industry continues to evolve, figures like Ilirjani and brands willing to push boundaries are crucial in shaping a fashion landscape that truly reflects the richness and complexity of the modern world, making elegance accessible to all.
About Elton Ilirjani
Albanian American model Elton Ilirjani, best known by his model’s name HANKO, is a mainstay on global runways. He is a runway model, genderless advocate and fashion icon based in New York City, but travels the world walking runway shows at global fashion weeks, like Paris Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week, London Fashion Week, and others.
Elton is breaking new ground as a genderless model. He walks for up-and-coming brands, helping them gain exposure in the industry and the media with his large following. Elton is known for opening or closing their shows, while bringing a performance art edge to the runway, going far beyond your typical model walk. Elton uses his eyes, facial expressions, hands and poses to prove that walking the runway is an art form.
Most recently, he worked alongside Japanese multimedia artist Naoko Tosa in Japa, Manuel Tiscareno in Milan, Wenny Han in New York, Arabesque Boudoir in Iceland, Winruit in London, Fierce by AP in New York, among dozens of others. Supporting young, up and coming designers is key to Elton’s inclusive ethos in the fashion world.
A mainstay in the Albanian tabloids, he gained notoriety as the first gay businessman who came out as publicly gay in 2016, casing shockwaves throughout the conservative country.
As a seasoned professional, it all started back in 2019, when Elton discovered Sam & Marvin’s fashion boutique 3NY in New York City. Elton started to buy clothes there, which focuses on Asian designers you don’t typically find in retail stores in New York City.
The designs caught his eye. Elton started to post himself on Instagram to his following of 12 million followers, as he is a renowned human rights activist from Albania. He started wearing the Asian designers’ clothes and tagging them in the posts. That led to a friendship with the designers, and some started asking him to walk for them at New York Fashion Week to Seoul Fashion Week. He first started modeling for BESFXXK, then started walking for other South Korean designers.
Now, Elton has walked for fashion designers at New York, Milan, Paris, London, Athens, Costa Rica, Miami and Tokyo Fashion Weeks from 2022 onward.
At the most recent New York Fashion Week 2025, he walked for designers Jemma Russo and Naoka Tosa. He has also walked for renowned designers like Greedilous and Malan Breton and just walked for the Ema Savahl runway show at Miami Swim Week, The Shows. Elton supports independent, up-and-coming couture designers. He walks for international fashion designers to show the power of art and culture through fashion, by bringing people together. He has over 12 million followers on Instagram.
Photos by Arun Nevader
