Elton Ilirjani’s Triumphant Return to the Runway at New York Fashion Week AW25

Supermodel Elton Ilirjani, the renowned LGBT activist, fashion icon, and pioneer of the genderless model movement, made a triumphant return to the runway at New York Fashion Week AW25. With more than 12 million followers globally, Ilirjani’s influence transcends borders, making him a force in the fashion industry.

Ilirjani’s rise to fame began in 2023 when he made history as the first genderless model to ever walk the runway at Seoul Fashion Week. Since then, he has not looked back, walking global fashion weeks in Milan, Paris, New York, and Tokyo. Ilirjani’s impact on the fashion industry is undeniable, and his influence has paved the way for a new generation of genderless models to follow in his footsteps.

Ilirjani’s recent appearance at New York Fashion Week AW25 saw him walk the runway for Global Fashion Collective’s runway shows for South Korean brand TRIPLEROOT and Japanese multimedia artist, Naoko Tosa. The South Korean designer Jinsun Lee, the mastermind behind TRIPLEROOT, is a fashion designer, merchandiser, and marketer who has operated a commercial line and a collection line since 2019. TRIPLEROOT’s collection line presents collaborations with various fields every season and presents concept fashion shows.

Ilirjani’s appearance for TRIPLEROOT was a performance art collaboration with artist Yun SongA. He graced the runway twice during the show, first in a performance art collaboration where he held up a white cloth that was painted into a mythical South Korean bird that grants wishes. Ilirjani then took the painting and wore it down the runway, creating a moment that will undoubtedly go down in fashion history.

For his second performance, Ilirjani wore a grey mohair outfit designed by TRIPLEROOT. Yun SongA is known for her “Camel Series” of paintings, which has shown across the world… Including an exhibition at the Louvre Museum in Paris. The combination of Ilirjani’s genderless beauty and TRIPLEROOT’s sensory design and high-quality fabric made for an unforgettable runway show.

Ilirjani also walked the runway for Naoko Tosa, a Japanese multimedia artist and fashion designer who creates fashion for the future. Tosa explores the relationship between different media, such as voice and sound, and the visuals that represent them. Her fashion is an extension of her artwork, and her designs protect the human body.

At the beginning of her runway show, she played a video asking, “What if disaster prevention clothing looks cool?” LED dresses can help flag a human in an emergency. The clothing comes from a fire-resistant fabric worn by firefighters. “LED fashion provides safety if you become trapped under debris in a disaster,” said Tosa. Ilirjani opened the show wearing a LED-embedded dress with cables, weighing a total of 20 pounds. The dress displayed a digital pattern that changed throughout the runway show.

Elton Ilirjani’s impact on the fashion industry extends beyond the runway. As the CEO and founder of the socially responsible company, HeadHunter Karriera LLC, Ilirjani continually proves that it is possible to be an international superstar and business mogul while being unapologetically himself. He has received numerous accolades for his activism, including the Philanthropist & Activist Of The Year Awards at the Out East End Impact Awards and the Influencer Awards in Miami. He also won the Trailblazer Awards at the NYC International Fashion Film Festival.

Ilirjani’s influence on the fashion industry is undeniable, and his impact is sure to continue for years to come. His work in pioneering the genderless model movement has paved the way for a new generation of models to break free from the gender binary and express themselves authentically.

Elton Ilirjani’s triumphant return to the runway at New York Fashion Week AW25 was a historical milestone in genderless modeling. Ilirjani’s continued work in the fashion industry, for LGBT rights and genderless expression have made him a trailblazer. It clearly inspires a new generation of models and fashion enthusiasts alike. With his unapologetic approach to fashion and activism, Ilirjani is a true icon in every sense of the word.

Photos by Arun Nevader