SS26 Menswear - THE QUIET POWER of Mergim Shabani

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The Quiet Power Of Mërgim Shabani

written CHIDOZIE OBASI

Kosovo-born, Vienna-hailed talent Mërgim Shabani kicked off his creative path that didn’t follow the customary trajectory in this realm. “I was very focused on sports and football growing up, but maybe because I’m left-handed and played football with my left foot, I had to learn early on how to adapt — and approach things in a more creative way,” he says.

Mërgim wears blazer, pants and belt by LOUIS VUITTON, shirts by CARUSO and ZEGNA and shoes by CHURCH’S

At the same time, Shabani was in touch with fashion from a young age, especially with Prada. “My uncle, who owned a variety of Prada shoes, had a strong influence on me,” he recalls, the moment we begin to settle in our conversation. “It was probably my first experience with something that felt more premium and intentional compared to other clothing, and it stayed with me,” he adds. Below, LE MILE grabs five with Shabani; unpacking all things influence, mental health and future hopes. You’re welcome.

Mërgim wears a total look by GUCCI

Mërgim wears a total look by PRADA

Chidozie Obasi
In an age permeated by saturation and social downturns, the word ‘influence’ - and its wealth of denotations - acquires a huge relevance and, in turn, prominence nowadays. How do you use your platforms and position to inform what’s going on in the world, and how/where do you see the future of socials heading to?

Mergim Shabani
We are all dependent on platforms today, but that also means they are an opportunity — and for me, that opportunity is a gift. There were people who inspired me and made it possible for me to even have a platform and a certain level of influence. The more I appreciate that, the more I want to be my most authentic self. I believe that when you are truly yourself, you can step away from competition more easily. When it comes to informing others, I don’t see myself in a position to lecture people about the complex state of the world. There’s a phrase I believe in: you can’t fix your home and you’re trying to fix the world. For me, that means doing the inner work first — becoming someone who contributes positively to their own community and tribe, instead of speaking on situations you don’t really have influence over.

Could you unpack what the most complex moments of your job are, and how you grapple with your mental health - particularly in a sea of numbers dictated by tractions?

I think the most complex moments are the ones where you have to constantly develop new skill sets and reach new levels, because you always want to become better.
Through that process, I learned an important lesson for my mental health: I never question myself as a human — my character or my value — but I do question my skills in a tough, honest way. That distinction is important. It allows me to improve without losing stability. I can be critical of my work, but still stay grounded in who I am.

Mërgim wears a jacket and top by CELINE and pants by RANDOM IDENTITIES by Stefano Pilati

Mërgim wears a tank top by LOUIS VUITTON, a hat by PAUL SMITH and jewellery by LAG WORLD

Mërgim wears a jacket by ISABEL MARANT, tank top by EXTREME CASHMERE, shirt by CANALI, pants by QUARTO ATTO, hat by LORO PIANA and tie by POLO RALPH LAUREN

What are you focusing on right now?

There are a few things I can speak about, and others I still prefer to keep quiet for now.
I have a store called Odë in Vienna with a partner, and we are now moving into online sales and worldwide shipping. It’s not just a fashion store or a boutique — it’s a space where people can experience our taste and perspective. I’m also developing Tempo Wellness Club, which is my own sports and movement brand. It will include a lot of my routines, workouts, and overall philosophy. Alongside that, I’m working on other product-based projects that I’m personally very connected to. I’m not ready to speak on them yet, but they will be visible soon.

What’s next for you? Any future hopes?

I’m constantly developing new skills and perspectives, so I see this as a phase where I’m stepping into a new level. At the same time, I see myself as a lifelong student of life. I want to stay productive, continue building, and provide for my people — my tribe — but also create moments where I can step back and appreciate the life I’ve built with those around me.
Hope is something that has a strong meaning to me. You can see it in a person’s eyes when it’s still there, and it’s something worth protecting. My hope for the future is to become a version of myself that gives more than he takes.

Mërgim wears shorts and hat by LORO PIANA

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seen COSIMO BUCCOLIERI via STUDIO REPOSSI
fashion market director CHIDOZIE OBASI
head of production JESSICA LOVATO
fashion EDWARD PUSCA
make up KIM GUTIERREZ via STUDIO REPOSSI using DOLCE&GABBANA BEAUTY
hair FUJIWARA TAKAHASHI via MKS MILANO
talent MËRGIM SHABANI via NEXT MILAN
photography assistant ANTONIO CROTTI
fashion assistants SOFIA FARINA + SIMONA VERNAZZA + LUIZA ANGELOVA + ANGELINA PERSIANI + ISABELLA RUIZ

credits
all Images (c) LE MILE
and Cosimo Buccolieri

SS26 Menswear - IVAN, UNFILTERED with Ivan Ugrin

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IVAN, UNFILTERED
*with Ivan Ugrin

written CHIDOZIE OBASI

Croatian-born, Amsterdam-hailed multidisciplinary artist Ivan Ugrin spent the last decade finding and shaping his stride. “I’ve been a professional contemporary dancer for fifteen years, with stints as a movement director and a model,” he tells LE MILE’s Fashion Market Director, Chidozie Obasi, the moment they meet in Spring, during a sun-soaked day in Milan ahead.

Ivan wears a total look by DIOR

The past year was a rough one for everyone around him, himself included. “It was a year of monumental changes, but also a year of big personal growth,” he shares, adding how he feels very proud of how far he’s come. “I changed my creative field, going from the contemporary dance world into a more fashion-driven realm,” he says. “My modeling career kicked off, and I honestly feel very grateful and blessed to be where I am right now,” he adds. Below, we grabbed five with Ugrin to unpack influences, career feats and future hopes.

Ivan wears a sweater by MICHAEL KORS and underwear by ISABEL MARANT

Chidozie Obasi
Who’s been your biggest influence while growing up?

Ivan Ugrin
Growing up, I was a very goofy kid that would play out scenes from Jim Carrey movies, especially Ace Ventura, as I really admired him. To this day, I still quote a lot of the jokes and physical humor.

Could you unpack your biggest career feats so far?

I don't really look at my career as one big feat after the other. But rather, I take pride in a lot of small, but equally meaningful events, like every time I premiere a piece. Or when my mom came to see me perform for the first time when I was twenty five years old (and then secondly when I was thirty three (she only saw me on stage twice). I’m also thrilled when a person who attends the show comes to me after it, telling me how the performance impacted them. I’m also elated when I catch a glance of a friend in the audience that I had no clue he was going to be there that night. In the past, I performed a lot for kids, and putting up a show for them made me fall in love with performing even more. I performed this kids’ play titled TETRIS by Erik Kaiel in a Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan. It was one of the most beautiful and heartwarming experiences of my career; the kind of experience that reminds you of the power of art.

And touching on the complex moments and, in turn, rejections, how have they shaped your persona?

No one likes rejections, but no one knows rejections better than performing artists. I personally have been rejected a lot of times. So much so that I have not passed a single audition in my career. I don’t do well under that kind of pressure, and I feel in the audition setting I’m unable to show my full potential. For all the jobs I’ve undertaken, I was either recommended by my peers or I personally wrote to choreographers directly, expressing my desire to work with them. So I’d say that these situations have impacted me a lot as a young dancer. I had to deal with most of them on my own, understanding I should not take every rejection to heart. Some things are just a matter of timing and luck.

Ivan wears a total look by PRADA

Ivan wears a sweater by ISABEL MARANT, shirt by LOUIS VUITTON, shorts by LESSICO FAMILIARE and shoes by CHURCH’S

Where did you study, and how has your path in dance been?

When I was eighteen, I moved to Zagreb to study Veterinary medicine. That same year I started dancing Jazz twice a week at TALA Dance Center in Zagreb. I didn't know much about dance at that time apart from how it felt in my body and how it made me feel. Dancing felt good, it felt right: It felt like I finally found my passion. Those hours spent in the studio made me feel free without any worry. I was told by my teachers that I was talented, but it was hard for me to understand that at the time. All I knew is that I wanted to be as good as I can be and I wanted to dance. I enrolled at Amsterdam School of The Arts, at the Modern Theater Dance department. I skipped a year, so I finished 4 years of education in three years, landing a graduation in 2013. After that moment, I worked mainly as a freelancer, most noticeably with Arno Schuitemaker and Connor Schumacher. I was part of a ICK/Emio Greco Pieter Scholten company in 2016 for a year, while they were artistic directors of Ballet National de Marseilles.

You’re also taking ballet classes, correct?

Yes, I still take ballet classes a bunch of times a week. During the week, as my daily practice I mix Yoga, Ballet and weight training at the gym. Nothing prepares you for dancing like classical training.

What projects are you working on?

This is a good opportunity to say that I am free and ready to work on new projects as I’m about to perform the last shows in the Netherlands, in beautiful pieces I am part of.

What’s next for you?

The next thing for me is to start new exciting dance projects in Europe. And together with my amazing agent Jane, we are focusing on my career as a model and movement director within the fashion space.

Ivan wears a blazer by FENDI, shirt by SANDRO, shorts by PHYSIQUE DU ROLE and shoes by CHURCH's

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photography ANDREA CENETIEMPO
fashion market director + stylist CHIDOZIE OBASI
head of production JESSICA LOVATO
fashion coordinators ALBERTO MICHISANTI + EDWARD PUSCA
make up EDOARDO DE FALCO via WM MANAGEMENT
hair FUJIWARA TAKAHASHI via MKS MILANO
talent IVAN UGRIN via DEJAPRIS AGENCY
fashion assistants VALENTINA INVERARDI + VINCENZO VITELLO + SEBASTIAN RAFAEL

credits
all Images (c) LE MILE
and Andrea Cenetiempo

SS26 Menswear - STITCHES OF FREEDOM with Michelangelo Vizzini

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STITCHES OF FREEDOM
*with Michelangelo Vizzini

written CHIDOZIE OBASI

Michelangelo Vizzini’s first dabs within the creative sphere took place from an early age, when music—in the first instance—became a pivotal tool for expression and freedom. “Over time I found acting as another equally powerful language,” he confesses, as we settle into our conversation.

Michelangelo wears a total look by MIU MIU

“I see myself as someone constantly exploring; I love nature, staying with my family and chocolate,” he exclaims, his face filled with excitement. “Growing up, I’ve been influenced by a mix of music and cinema: Musicals were probably the strongest presence early on, as they shaped my sensitivity.” Vizzini has always been deeply inspired by artists who were able to be honest and vulnerable in their work: namely Daniel Caesar, whose music carries a deeply raw and emotional truth in its lyricism.

Michelangelo wears a total look by CELINE

“In general, I’m drawn to people who create from a genuine place, regardless of the medium,” he says. “Creativity has always been part of my life,” he opines, adding how, “Music came first and very naturally, while acting came late, but it didn’t feel like a shift, but more of an expansion.” LE MILE’s Fashion Director caught up with the rising creative force, unpacking everything from career feats to future hopes. You’re welcome.

Michelangelo wears a blazer by GIORGIO ARMANI, a sweater by SON OF A TAILOR, shirts by MOSCHINO and MICHAEL KORS, shorts by POLO RALPH LAUREN, shoes by CHURCH’S, and a belt by CELINE

Chidozie Obasi
When was the pivotal moment you realised you wanted to pursue the creative path as a full time profession?

Michelangelo Vizzini
I think I’ve always known, in a way. This path requires courage, and I never really had a plan B. I could spend hours singing or studying musicals without ever feeling tired, and that feeling made it clear to me that this was what I wanted to do with my life.

Leaning on to the crucial moment that changed your path forever: could you unpack it with us?

I think the crucial moment was when I decided to put music slightly aside for a while and focus more on cinema. It wasn’t an easy choice, because music has always been a big part of me, but I felt the need to explore acting more deeply.

At a time when the social and cultural phenomena are wreaked by havoc at an increasingly ferocious pace, how do you navigate the system and stay afloat?

I try to stay grounded and connected to what feels real. It’s easy to get distracted by noise, but I think it’s important to come back to the work, to the process, and to your own voice. For me, it’s about focusing on authenticity rather than external validation.

Could you unpack your most ‘complex’, dare I say, moment of your journey?

The most complex moments are often the ones where you doubt yourself. There are times when things feel uncertain, when you question your path. But I’ve learned that those moments are also necessary, they push you to grow, to redefine who you are, both as an artist and as a person.

Michelangelo wears jeans by HED MAYNER, shorts by ESSENTIEL ANTWERP, and shoes by BEPOSITIVE

And now, talk to us about Love Me, Love Me: how did it all happen? And what did you expect when you first read the script?

I immediately connected with the emotional core of Love Me, Love Me. It asked me to be completely honest, especially in portraying love and vulnerability. I wanted to respect the character while making him real for me, focusing on personal connections. It was also a key experience that taught me to trust the process and stay present.

You’re also quite passionate about fashion: is that something you've learned to embrace over time, and what's your relationship with it?

Fashion is something I’ve grown into over time. At first, it was more instinctive, but now I see it as another form of expression. It’s a way to communicate something without words, an extension of identity and mood.

What's next for you, and where are you hoping to take your career in time to come?

I want to continue exploring characters, stories that are intimate but also challenging. I’m interested in roles that push me out of my comfort zone and allow me to grow. At the same time, I’ll keep developing my music, because it’s such a personal space for me. I don’t want to limit myself. I just want to keep evolving and searching for something real.

Any final reflections?

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s the importance of staying open, open to change, to doubt, to growth. This path is unpredictable, but that’s also what makes it meaningful. In the end, it’s all about being honest with yourself and with what you want to express. Anyway, life will guide me, and wherever I end up, I’ll trust the process.

Michelangelo wears shirts by SON OF A TAILOR and POLO RALPH LAUREN, pants by MOSCHINO, and jewellery by LAG WORLD

photography ANDREA CENETIEMPO
fashion market director + stylist CHIDOZIE OBASI
head of production JESSICA LOVATO
fashion coordinators ALBERTO MICHISANTI + EDWARD PUSCA
make up AMERICO TURTORO via MKS MILANO
hair FUJIWARA TAKAHASHI via MKS MILANO
talent MICHELANGELO VIZZINI
fashion assistants SOFIA FARINA + LUIZA ANGELOVA + SEBASTIAN SCHIAVO

credits
all Images (c) LE MILE
and Andrea Cenetiempo

SS26 Menswear - FUNCTION AND FINESSE with Umberto Villahermosa

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FUNCTION AND FINESSE
*with Umberto Villahermosa

written CHIDOZIE OBASI

For Italian talent Umberto Villahermosa, a lifestyle pundit whose affection with outdoor sports and art goes back in time, the past year has marked a transition in his path. “I started a clothing brand and I’m learning how to manage my time around working as a model, while building a solid base,” he says, cosily, as we begin to settle into our conversation.

Umberto wears a blazer and shirt by DOLCE&GABBANA, pants by QUARTO ATTO, and shoes by CANALI

Umberto wears a blazer and shirt by DOLCE&GABBANA

“It’s been a big challenge, but I’m willing to take it, and it brought a new fire of longing within me.” Since childhood, he’s always been a very creatively-driven kid, and aged fifteen he began building his own surfboards. “It’s only really when I moved over to Milano to study Economics that I understood I was drawn more towards creative disciplines like painting, photography and design,” he confesses. “I’ve always lived with the mentality of making something myself rather than buying it,” he adds. Umberto kicked off his modeling career because of his grandmother, who worked for the Italian house Fendi when she was younger. “She told me that I could work well as a model,” he says, “and took me, just like a scouter, to who’s still my current mother agency.”

Umberto wears a blazer and shirt by DOLCE&GABBANA

He wasn’t considering that becoming reality at first, but as he began to work he realised that it was interesting and unique, and that he much preferred honing such practice than working as a finance professional or in a corporate office as his life was originally meant to be. “The uprise of socials during those years also gave me a further opportunity to express myself and release a vision of who I was under my own lens, and that was such a lovely medley of accumulated experiences and sources of inspiration that once again drove me more towards the realm of creativity,” he says. “At the time, I was also motivated by the love I gained on social media, which could also be a slippery slope for obvious mental health reasons,” he reflects. As for the rest? Well, there’s more to the story, which you’ll probably read here first. You’re welcome.

Umberto wears a coat by ACT N1, a shirt by CANAKU, pants by THE NOUR, shoes by JIMMY CHOO, and an archive tie

Chidozie Obasi
Could you unpack your biggest career feats?

Umberto Villahermosa
During the past twelve years of my career, I’d say some of my proudest jobs are my first lookbook shoots for brands such as Versace, Dolce&Gabbana but also shows during fashion week, for example my first ever shows such as MSGM or Philipp Plein. I'm talking about those beginning jobs because I still remember the enthusiasm levels to this day.

How about the complex moments you’ve had?

I would refer as complex moments the fact that modelling, such as a lot of other creative jobs, is not a super stable career, there’s lots of ups and downs and those downturns can be understandably harsh if you don’t have a solid mindset that comes with understanding the idea that you cannot have control over every single facet of your path.

As a model and talent with such a broad experience and portfolio, how did you manage to stay afloat amid the system’s downturns?

I highly believe in professionality and humanity as fundamental values, no matter what the work environment is. You can have your face on all the magazine covers and on the biggest brand campaigns, but if you show up at work late and you treat others badly because you think you are superior, I would personally not hire you to represent my brand. I think I have always respected that and it definitely helped to keep me afloat.

Umberto wears a total look by LORO PIANA

Moving onto your brand, could you expand on it and specify how you are hoping to scale it further?

During my climbing years, I noticed I couldn’t find a comfortable pair of pants to practice such activity outdoors and that would protect my knees and shins from scratches that you would get from hitting granite rock. Therefore, I started climbing with karate pants that were very comfortable in terms of flexibility, but that wouldn’t protect enough from scratches. I decided to make my own climbing because I like to experiment with patterns and create destructured designs that are now the most sold, and that’s how Sasso People was born. I also give the opportunity to customers to have a custom sizing for maximum comfort, and I’m committed to having the closest possible to zero waste repurposing the fabric scraps into accessories and climbing bags. I transformed my living room into my studio, and I currently make everything by hand. It’s doable but I’m at maximum capacity. The big challenge will be to expand with production outsourcing, but in a way that I can maintain the same level of craftsmanship and low environmental impact because these, together with building a healthy and inclusive community, are the main values of the brand.

What’s next for you?

I will surely continue working as a model, keep developing the brand and find solutions to get to a broader public and grow the community. On a more personal level, I promised myself to work on my mental health and take care of myself a little more.

Umberto wears a blazer by CARUSO

Umberto wears a blazer by CARUSO and pants by THE LATEST

Umberto wears an overshirt by PAUL SMITH, a shirt and pants by LABO.ART, and shoes by CHURCH’S

Umberto wears a tank top by MICHAEL KORS, pants by DOLCE&GABBANA, and jewellery by LAG WORLD

Umberto wears a blazer by HED MAYNER, pants by THE LATEST, a hat by DOLCE&GABBANA, and jewellery by LAG WORLD and EUPHORIA NEW

Umberto wears a shirt by GRIFONI and pants by PHYSIQUE DU ROLE and MEIMEIJ

photography COSIMO BUCCOLIERI via STUDIO REPOSSI
fashion market director + stylist CHIDOZIE OBASI
head of production JESSICA LOVATO
fashion coordinators ALBERTO MICHISANTI + EDWARD PUSCA
make up CHIARA GUIZZETTI via THE GREEN APPLE ITALIA
hair FUJIWARA TAKAHASHI via MKS MILANO
model UMBERTO VILLAHERMOSA via INDEPENDENT MGMT
photography assistant ANTONIO CROTTI
fashion assistants SIMONA VERNAZZA + ANGELINA PERSIANI + SOFIA FARINA + CHARISSE ORDINARIA + LUIZA ANGELOVA + CHIARA DE BONIS

credits
all Images (c) LE MILE
and Cosimo Buccolieri