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Albanians Fighting Cancer USA (AFC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts, in collaboration with the well-known Albanian designer Mirela Nurçe, is bringing fashion and philanthropy together in New York City at the studio of world-renowned photographer and artist Fadil Berisha.
For this special event, Mirela Nurçe is generously donating 100% of the proceeds from her clothing sales to AFC, with the funds designated to support the Children’s Department at Lushnje Hospital in Albania.
“This is much more than a fashion event,” said Roberta Panariti Nashi, Founder and President of Albanians Fighting Cancer USA wearing a beautiful silk dress designed by Mirela. “It is an example of how our community can come together and use talent, generosity, and success to make a real difference for people back home in Albania. We are grateful to Mirela for dedicating her talent and her beautiful creations to this cause. Every purchase represents a contribution toward helping children, making a change and improving healthcare in Albania.”
Fotini Kokeri Allteni, a well-known philanthropist and a longtime supporter of Albanian organizations, wearing a beautiful red suit made by Mirela said: “Mirela Nurçe’s decision to dedicate the proceeds to this cause demonstrates how creativity and philanthropy can come together to create meaningful change. When Albanian women unite with a shared purpose, we are stronger. Together, we can make a meaningful difference.”
The event also highlights the important role of the Albanian-American community in supporting healthcare initiatives and giving back to communities in Albania.
“Fashion with a Purpose” is not simply about clothing—it is about using fashion to create opportunity, compassion, and hope.
AFC remains committed to building partnerships with individuals, businesses, medical professionals, and members of the Albanian-American community to support hospitals and patients in Albania. We thank all organizations that supported this event: the Albanian American Women Organization “Qiriazi Sisters” New York chapter, the Albanian Dream organization in Philadelphia, and the Albanian American National Organization.
Image Credit: AFC
Mirela Nurçe
Mirela Nurçe is an Albanian fashion designer, dressmaker, and costume designer whose career spans more than three decades across fashion, art, and cultural projects. She belongs to the generation that helped establish contemporary fashion in Albania following the fall of communism and is recognized as the first fashion designer to present a fashion show in Albania during this new period, on May 5, 1992, at the Palace of Congresses in Tirana.
That historic presentation marked the beginning of a long creative journey in which fashion became closely connected with art, culture, performance, and Albanian identity. In 2000, Nurçe established her own workshop in Tirana, developing a practice centered on design, pattern-making, cutting, and the craftsmanship of garment construction.
Image Credit: AFC
Her creative work is deeply inspired by Albanian tradition and cultural heritage, while also drawing from the cultures, craftsmanship, and artistic influences of different parts of the world. Rather than treating heritage simply as a historical reference, Nurçe interprets it through a contemporary fashion language, creating a dialogue between cultural memory and modern design.
Her work extends beyond fashion design. Throughout her career, she has developed a wide range of artistic and cultural projects and has worked as a costume designer for theatre, film, and stage productions, including Lysistrata, The Log · 12 in Hollywood, and the film The Weight of My Wife.
A significant part of her creative work has focused on Albanian heritage. Her collection Continuation of Tradition received First Prize in Naples, Italy, in 2004, while her Jubleta (traditional Albanian bell-shaped skirt) collection was presented in Vienna in 2006. These projects reflect her continuing interest in interpreting Albanian cultural heritage through fashion and presenting it within an international artistic context.
Over the course of her career, Nurçe has presented her work internationally in Naples, Vienna, Copenhagen, Milan, and New York, as well as through fashion shows and cultural events in the United States. Her international activities include presentations during Milan Fashion Week – White Salon, fashion shows in New York, a collaboration with Versace in New York, and participation in international fashion and cultural events. She has also served as the official designer for Miss Universe Albania and the Eurovision Song Contest Albania, and her creations have been worn by diplomats, First Ladies, and cultural figures.
Her international career has continued through appearances and projects in New York, including First Lady Lunch, Global Runway, and Fashion 4 Development. Her work has also included a charity fashion presentation in Miami and other cultural initiatives connecting fashion with social and humanitarian causes.
Today, Mirela Nurçe works between Tirana and New York, continuing to create high fashion and custom-made garments while developing artistic and cultural projects. Her practice remains grounded in craftsmanship, individuality, and the construction of the garment, while maintaining a strong connection to Albanian cultural heritage and an international perspective.
For Nurçe, fashion has never been only a profession. Over more than three decades, it has been a way of creating, preserving, and reinterpreting Albanian culture while bringing it into conversation with contemporary art and international fashion.
In partnership with APG
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