In a standout moment at New York Fashion Week’s Spring/Summer 2026 showcase, supermodel and genderless advocate Elton Ilirjani took to the runway for Wenny Han, an aspiring fashion designer still in high school. The collaboration highlighted a powerful bridge between an established fashion icon and a visionary new voice, capturing the industry’s attention.
Ilirjani, a mainstay on global runways, wore a stunning grey two-piece suit designed by Han. The ensemble featured a sharply tailored cropped jacket and matching pants, embodying the young designer’s signature blend of sophisticated structure and artistic edge. The look was a testament to Han’s ability to merge fine art concepts with refined wearability.
Wenny Han is quickly emerging as a name to watch. Born in China and raised across Canada and the United States, she brings a uniquely global perspective to her work. Her design philosophy is deeply influenced by the fragmented brilliance of Picasso, merging Cubist aesthetics with a quiet emotional depth. Through abstract storytelling, thoughtful color theory, and unconventional tailoring, Han’s creations explore themes of identity, transformation, and personal memory, establishing her not just as a designer, but as a creator of wearable art.
The show was part of Asian NYFW. With a sharp focus on Asian designers and diaspora creatives, the SS03 season will spotlight twenty-three boundary-pushing designers, each exploring identity, culture, and innovation through their unique creative lens.
The choice to walk for an up-and-coming talent is characteristic of Ilirjani, who has built a career on supporting independent and emerging designers. With over 12 million followers on Instagram, the New York City-based model and human rights activist uses his considerable platform to amplify voices that are shaping the future of fashion.
Ilirjani’s own journey into the high-fashion world was unconventional. It began in 2019 at 3NY, a New York boutique specializing in Asian designers not typically found in mainstream retail. Captivated by their unique designs, he began showcasing the clothes on his Instagram. The organic promotion led to friendships with the designers, who soon invited him to walk in their shows, starting with South Korean brand BESFXXK.
Since then, Ilirjani has become a fixture at major fashion weeks in New York, Milan, Paris, London, and Tokyo. He has walked for renowned names like Greedelious and Malan Breton, and recently appeared in the Ema Savahl runway show at Miami Swim Week. His support for Wenny Han continues his mission to use fashion as a medium to unite people through the power of art and culture.
The partnership between the seasoned supermodel and the prodigious young designer at NYFW SS26 was more than just a runway moment; it was a statement on mentorship, artistic integrity, and the boundless future of fashion. Photos by Arun Nevader.