A contemporary ritual where fashion transcends form to become narrative, light, and cultural responsibility
On February 25, 2026, the Chiostri di San Barnaba in Milan breathed a vibrant silence, a moment suspended between history and dream, as GX Fashion Week transformed fashion into pure emotion, art perceived not only with the eyes but with the heart and soul. In the darkness, illuminated by a single light that made the medieval frescoes appear alive, words began to dance through the space, delicate and powerful at once: “Beauty is not only what we see, but what we embrace with heart and mind. It emerges from the harmony of forms, the care with which something is created, and the respect for those who perceive it. Beauty invites us to live with mindfulness, responsibility, and gratitude, for it touches the universal within humanity and elevates it.
It is present in art, in gestures, in words, in everything that expresses sincerity and measure. Those who seek beauty cultivate their dignity and their capacity to bring light into the lives of others.” In the sweet, intense, and profoundly talented voice of Gentiana Dervishi, organizer, soul, and owner of the GX brand, each word was a breath, a caress, an invitation to experience fashion as a total experience, tangible poetry, an energy to be felt. Over 300 guests were captivated by garments chosen with vision, passion, and respect for the observer, suspended in a time that seemed to stretch indefinitely. These words found continuity in the narrative of Alessio Marrari, the GX communications blogger with decades of media experience, who conveyed the essence of the collections, transforming every gaze, every breath, every applause into a single, monumental act of authentic beauty, leaving an indelible mark on the souls of those privileged to witness it, as if fashion itself whispered its most precious secret: true beauty ignites the light within us.
Against this backdrop of intense inspiration and vision, the GX Fashion Week runway welcomed designers who interpreted contemporary fashion through diverse languages, united by a profound creative identity. Among the most prominent was Etnik Shala, founder and creative director of the brand Etinik Shala, born June 20, 1993, in Peja, recognized today as one of the most visionary voices in contemporary Kosovar fashion. Over a decade-long career, Shala has built a distinctive stylistic identity, harmonizing contemporary fashion, cultural heritage, and historical memory into a coherent, deeply recognizable synthesis. His collections, Symphony of Flowers, White Swan, Geisha, Brymé, Muze, Xenon, and Alexei 2025, have graced prestigious international stages, earning significant awards, including the Grand Prix at the Big SEE Fashion Design Awards in 2019 and 2022, and the Public Choice Award in Sarajevo. Honored in 2011 as Best Albanian Designer, Shala has also held Creative Director positions for international brands and continues to train new generations, promoting a conscious, sustainable, and culturally rooted vision of fashion.
Today, he embodies a bridge between identity and innovation, memory and future, interpreting heritage in a contemporary key. Kurumi Yokoyama, founder and creative director of the brand Kurumi, began her path in fashion as a professional model, gaining firsthand experience of clothing’s transformative power, the precise moment a garment reshapes not only aesthetics but posture, confidence, and energy. From this awareness springs her creative philosophy. Deeply influenced by Japanese aesthetics, from traditional motifs to artisanal excellence and the expressive power of simplicity, Yokoyama reinterprets these codes into everyday luxury.
Elements once reserved for ritual or formal occasions are transformed into contemporary silhouettes, essential, sophisticated, seamlessly integrated into modern life. The brand’s core identity rests in the concept of “Wa,” expressing harmony and serving as a bridge between tradition and present, individual and collective, across cultures. Wearing her creations becomes a symbolic act that transcends aesthetics, fostering dialogue, understanding, and connection. Kurumi collections aim not merely to enhance image but to inspire confidence, joy, and awareness, blending global runway sensitivity with deep respect for Japanese tradition. Álex Cortéz Carreras, owner of the brand Alex Menorca, presented Resilienza, a collection that spoke to the silent strength required to move forward when life’s weight becomes invisible to others. Dedicated to those living with anxiety and depression, it celebrated resilience, dignity, and courage, translating internal struggles into a visual narrative of elegance and fortitude.
Fluid fabrics, enveloping volumes, and a thoughtful color palette accompanied movement, while laces and ties symbolized social pressures in dialogue with soft silhouettes evoking freedom. The collection also paid homage to the designer’s grandmother, a timeless icon of elegance and everyday strength, anchoring the brand’s identity. True to his DNA, Cortéz Carreras centered sustainability and materiality in his creative vision, elevating fashion to a narrative and emotional language and affirming himself as an emerging international voice in contemporary storytelling. Nina Tsiklauri, a Georgian with an “Italian soul,” and owner of Unique Milano, presented creations that sublimated sartorial tradition into a sophisticated, exclusive aesthetic, marrying the purity of Italian craft with bold, contemporary expression.
Trained under master Paolo Lentini, now Accademico Nazionale dei Sartori, she produces masterpieces that fuse artisanal excellence and innovation, ensuring each piece communicates elegance, personality, and a compelling presence. Her attention to detail transcends decoration, imbuing each stitch and finish with strength and character, creating garments that dialogue with the wearer, amplifying individuality. Tsiklauri has established herself as one of the most refined and visionary protagonists on the international scene. Michele Umberto Perrera, an internationally renowned designer with sixty years in men’s and women’s fashion, celebrated his 88th year with GX Fashion Week. Having participated in the Festival della Moda di Sanremo in 1968 and been invited to the Accademia dei Sartori in 1971, Perrera has been a staple at the Teatro Regio di Torino’s annual shows since 1974.
In the ’80s and ’90s, he conducted pioneering sartorial research compiled in the acclaimed Trattato per le Sartorie, recognized in elite industry circles. This edition, he captivated once again, presenting impeccably crafted models with a unifying “all-yellow” theme, transforming the runway into an explosion of light, energy, and joy, a poetic, audacious choice that enchanted the audience and celebrated the power of fashion to convey emotion, personality, and life. “Five nations, five distinct cultures intertwined in a dialogue of rare harmony, each bringing the deepest essence of its own tradition. I had the privilege of witnessing sublime elegance and flawless collaboration among designers and technical and artistic teams. On a human level, the atmosphere never felt cold or detached, but revealed genuine harmony fueled by passion across languages, uniting everyone toward a shared goal.
The collections reached extraordinary heights, and in the audience’s expressions, I sensed sincere wonder and profound admiration for the selected designers. Observing each work with respect and gratitude, it was a privilege to support the creativity of the designers, giving them the opportunity to see authentic masterpieces come alive on the runway,” said Gentiana Dervishi, creator and patron of the established Milanese February event. Coordination director Alessia Xhafa orchestrated an organizational masterpiece with rare professional mastery, commanding every context with impeccable clarity and transforming complex situations into unanimously recognized successes. Hair and makeup artists, true architects of beauty, elevated the aesthetic to a scenic vision under the flawless direction of Diana Jaupi, Alex Radulescu, Sachie Kishihara, and Corrado Costanzo. Bringing this professional excellence to life were Motoc Monica Alexandra, Adrian Colesniuc, Lirije Dema, Giada Costanzo, Bardas Alexia, Maletaj Boris, Ally Konci, Mishaela Zefi, Elisa Murru, and Alice Russo, a collaborative team that enhanced the identity of every runway creation, conferring harmony, character, and refinement to the entire aesthetic framework of the event.
Credits Photo: Nicola Giordano - Maria Sanchez Duran - @labizarre.studio - Fanni Nyikos
