Maison Nica releases “Gaia Planet,” a Runway Album featuring Fashionista and LGBTQIA+ Icon Elton Ilirjani

South Korean fashion house Maison Nica takes the runway to the airwaves with their new, first-ever runway album, “Gaia Planet,” a groundbreaking concept that combines the worlds of fashion and music. 

Following the success of their recent show, the album is a tribute to Maison Nica’s runway event at Seoul Fashion Week in March 2023. The show was marked by some of South Korea’s leading fashion designers and artists, and featured creations that celebrated the fashion scene’s leading-edge, visionary aesthetics to a global audience.

Released on April 10 on Spotify, “Gaia Planet” is a heart-stopping, eclectic album that features four techno songs by renowned South Korean “jazz meets arts” musician Standard1 and produced by Grey Studio. Capturing the essence of the runway, the album is an auditory journey into a creative landscape of sounds and textures.

On the cover is none other than Maison Nica’s muse and friend, model and LGBTQIA+ icon Elton Ilirjani, who also walked the runway at Seoul Fashion Week for MMAM.

Elton Ilirjani is the first genderless model to walk for Seoul Fashion Week. Known for his daring style and infectious personality, Elton took the event by storm, walking in four runway shows during the illustrious week. 

These shows included the MMAM runway show on March 15, the Seokwoon Yoon runway show on March 16, the Greedilous show on March 17, and finally, the Maison Nica show on March 19. With each appearance, Elton showcased their versatility and ability to captivate audiences, further solidifying their position as a trailblazer in the fashion industry.

Elton Ilirjani

Sourced Photo

“Maison Nica’s muse and friend Elton is the main character of the album. Elton is well-meaning, iconic, and fashionable,” said Monica Koh, designer of Maison Nica.

“I’m so happy that the music from this iconic Maison Nica show, which I closed walking the runway, is immortalized in an album which everyone can listen to,” Elton remarks.

Elton’s impact on the fashion world is significant and unique. As a genderless runway model, Elton Ilirjani has walked for internationally acclaimed fashion brands like BESFXXK, a Seoul fashion brand, and most recently, for Seoul Fashion Week 2023. As the founder of the Dignity Global Foundation, his work both inside and outside the fashion industry has gained international recognition in various publications, such as Forbes, V Magazine, LA Weekly, and Miami Living Magazine.

The release of Maison Nica’s “Gaia Planet” album marks a new milestone in the intersection of fashion and music. With Elton Ilirjani as the central figure, the album celebrates the creativity and innovation of the fashion world, while also highlighting the importance of inclusivity and representation.

Elton Ilirjani

Sourced Photo

Along with Maison Nica’s “Gaia Planet” runway album garnering worldwide attention and praise, Elton Ilirjani’s star continues to rise in the international fashion scene. The fashionista expressed his anticipation for a return to the South Korean fashion scene, expressing: “I look forward to returning to Seoul Fashion Week as a runway model,” says Elton.

However, there’s no slowing down for this trailblazer, as Elton is set to take his unique style and captivating presence to the upcoming Paris Fashion Week and Shanghai Fashion Week. Undoubtedly, Elton’s involvement in these major fashion events is a testament to his role as a symbol of inclusivity, representation, and innovation in the fashion world. 

As the industry embraces change, Elton Ilirjani is at the forefront, inspiring designers and fans alike with his boundary-pushing work and unwavering dedication to equality.

Stay connected with Elton Ilirjani and his work through the following links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eilirjani/ 

The HeadHunter Group: https://theheadhunter.com/ 

Dignity Global: http://dignity.global/ 

Supporting independent designers, breaking stereotypes, and fighting for gay rights– Elton Ilirjani and their legacy to the fashion industry

Elton Ilirjani, based in Brooklyn, New York, is a social media phenomenon, a fashion influencer, a company CEO, and an LGBTQIA+ activist. Elton, who was born in Albania, has made it their life’s mission to advocate for equality, human rights, and fair treatment of LGBTQ+ people everywhere, including in the United States and around the world. In anticipation of New York Fashion Week, Elton is a huge advocate for supporting independent fashion designers. 

Elton emphasizes how crucial it is to have genderless models walking the runway. This, according to them, is the future of modeling, and the modeling world will see significant shifts in the not-too-distant future. According to Elton, the fashion runway is no longer sexist, discriminating, or a place where women are objectified. The general public can more readily understand genderless modeling since it represents everyone, is synonymous with the arts and production, and is more accessible. 

Elton Ilirjani believes that genderless models are helping to make the fashion industry more welcoming to women and members of the LGBTQIA+ community by standing outside the conventional confines of what constitutes physical beauty. According to Elton, the fashion industry is highly controlled and subjective, and sometimes it can be abusive. Genderless models are the very first step toward freedom in the fashion industry.

Elton supports South Korean designers, which is only seen sometimes in the United States since large-name brands dominate the market for luxury products. BESFXXK and The House of Mua Mua are two of their favorite designers in the fashion industry. The distinctive appearance is what appeals to Elton the most about them.

BESFXXK is a South Korean brand that Elton considers talented, and they believe it is the future of fashion worldwide. Elton identifies the genderless philosophy and the simplicity of use as two benefits. BESFXXK is full of spirit, love, desire, inspiration, and beauty believers. They also want the models they have walking their runway shows to be themselves and not a copy-paste version of other models or stereotypes that the fashion industry has created over the past 30 years.

“As for the House of Mua Mua, this is another amazing, colorful brand! The designer of this brand is talented, crazy, and dares to trailblaze her sequin pieces with cheeky slogans in the fashion industry is truly unique,” says Elton. In Milan and Italy in general, where fashion is viewed solely through the lens of tradition, and a conservative perspective about what constitutes beauty and fashion, the designer of House of Mua Mua is an Italian rebel fashion designer. This is rare for the city of Milan and Italy in general.

Dignity Global Foundation is a charitable organization that Elton Ilirjani established. Its mission is to defend the human and civil rights of women and members of the LGBTQIIA+ community in the workplace. They designed the “Employment Equality Index” for the LGBTQIIA+ community. This index assesses private businesses and public organizations in western Balkan nations according to how closely they adhere to workplace human and civil rights principles. They have also established a prosperous career over the previous few decades as the founder and director of The HeadHunter Group, a multinational organization with offices located in 15 countries across the world.

Elton was the first openly homosexual man in Albania and created news when they came out to the media in 2006. This event is considered a watershed moment in the country’s history. As an activist, they were the driving force behind two movements aimed at increasing transgender acceptance: the “Lipstick Movement,” and the “Nobody is Straight” movement for increased LGBTQIA+ inclusivity. The things that genuinely make Elton famous are their unique sense of style as well as his quirky and eclectic personality. Elton is well-known in the New York City fashion world and has walked the runway for a number of the most innovative fashion designers during New York Fashion Week. He has walked the runway for internationally renowned fashion houses such as the House of Mua Mua (Milan) and BESFXXK in his capacity as a model who does not conform to any gender (Seoul). They have been published in publications such as Forbes, LA Weekly, V Magazine, and Miami Living Magazine, amongst others.

You can follow Elton Ilirjani on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/eilirjani/.