Break Free NYFW: The Only Charity Runway on the CFDA Calendar
Design: REHAB New York | Model: Riona (@_rionakd) | Photo by @christianmercadophotography
On Wednesday, February 11th at 6:00 PM ET, within the storied walls of The Refectory at Chelsea Square in Manhattan, New York Fashion Week paused… not to escape reality, but to confront it.
Break Free NYFW, the only charity runway show officially listed on the CFDA calendar, returned as a defining moment of the season: a runway where fashion and lived experience intersect, and where creativity becomes a language for recovery, resilience, and transformation.
Hosted by the Break Free Foundation, the annual benefit show challenges the industry’s long-standing culture of perfection by centering narratives that are often hidden such as addiction, mental illness, eating disorders, grief, and rebirth… issues that quietly permeate the fashion world, yet are rarely addressed with honesty or care.
“Break Free is redefining what fashion week can stand for… using the runway as a platform for healing and human stories,” says Alexandra “Lex” Nyman, Founder & CEO of the Break Free Foundation. “This show celebrates creativity born from lived experience, proving that recovery, resilience, and advocacy are not only powerful but they’re fashionable and long overdue in this industry.”
Paris Runway Official Media Team Shoots The Council of Fashion Designers of America Official Calendar Event
Paris Runway Official (@parisrunwayofficial) was there to capture the runway moment with its media team… bringing a team of photographers, videographers, models and creatives to capture still moments in time for the show. Head Photographer, Christian Mercado along with Chia Ta Tsai and Jack Hathaway was there to capture moments for publications globally. @anthony_zaccardi was there to support who later in the week captured Alice + Olivia.
A Runway Rooted in Purpose
More than a presentation, Break Free is a movement. The show is one that prioritizes designers whose work is shaped by personal truth and emotional depth. This season’s lineup reflects that ethos with remarkable clarity.
The designer lineup included:
- Aldo Segama, Aldo’s House of Formals, presenting an upcoming collection grounded in personal narrative. Aldo’s House of Formals showcased ‘many ways of wearing black’ on September 11th at Break Free where his models took to the runway in hand crafted formalwear for men. Learn more: @aldos_formals
- Dmarxx Design, founded by Devin Markiewicz, a handcrafted leather accessories brand born in Brooklyn and now based in Connecticut, whose signature “Blackout Bag” honors the founder’s journey through addiction recovery. Learn more: @dmarxxdesign
- LadyCat by Lex, the size-inclusive womenswear label founded by Alexandra “Lex” Nyman, known for emotionally resonant collections such as Therapy, Shadows, and Half-Mourning. With a background in film, costume design, and styling, Nyman has dressed artists including Lady Gaga, Gabi DeMartino, and Emma Norton… transforming grief and resilience into wearable art. Learn more: @ladycatfashion
- Monday Blues, Studio., led by an anonymous designer who embraces absence as authorship, allowing craftsmanship and emotion to eclipse identity in a culture obsessed with visibility. Monday Blues also presented at Men’s Day at Mercedes Benz of Manhattan earlier that day. Learn more: @mondaybluesstudio
- Open Mind Apparel (OMACUSTOMS), founded by Aaron Thompson, offers exclusive one-of-one designs rooted in diversity, individuality, and the philosophy of “open your mind and stand out”. Learn more: @oma_customs
- REHAB New York, founded by Claire Comai, a ready-to-wear brand inspired by recovery, rebirth, and spiritual transformation, merging luxe fabrics with avant-garde silhouettes. Claire continues to share her story through her designs, but also supports designers throughout the fashion industry attending runway shows and events. Learn more: Learn more: @rehabstudiosny
- Susie Elliott, a Brooklyn-based designer making history at 95 years old as the oldest designer to ever debut at New York Fashion Week… What an extraordinary reminder that creativity has no expiration date. September 11th was a moment we were able to capture with her. Learn more: @susieelliott66
Together, the designers form a collective narrative: fashion as survival, as memory, as becoming. Paris Runway Official was there to capture those special moments with each designer, model, backstage team, talent, creatives and others to make visions become reality… become life.
Design: Aldo’s House of Formals | Model: Miguel Contreras (@_ken.pachii) | Photo by @christianmercadophotography
Design: Aldo’s House of Formals | Model: Alexander Wang (@alexanderzwang) | Photo by @christianmercadophotography
REHAB New York: Rebirth on the Runway
Among the season’s most anticipated presentations was REHAB New York, with its latest collection titled The Renaissance… French for rebirth.
Founded by Claire Comai, REHAB was born in New York City, a place that deeply shapes the brand’s visual language through its architecture, nightlife, and raw creative energy. The collection explores life, death, and spiritual reawakening, drawing from Comai’s own journey through addiction recovery and transformation.
Luxurious materials took to the runway including ostrich feather, silk, leather, and tulle. These materials were an anchor to the collection, while inspiration ranges from Renaissance and Impressionist art to religious iconography and the beauty of the human form. References span from The Birth of Venus to depictions of crucifixion and rebirth, creating a dialogue between pain and transcendence.
“My creative inspiration comes from moments when life felt closest to ending and the surreal ecstasy of being reborn,” Comai shares. “Fashion became the way I learned how to live again.”
REHAB New York is available at www.rehabstudiosny.com, with options for custom pieces and select pop-ups throughout the year, including past retail collaborations such as Wolf & Badger NYC.
Artistry Beyond the Runway
The evening unfolded as a multidisciplinary experience. Performances included Yannie Beliziano, a multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter, and Wyn Starks, a soul-driven pop artist redefining modern music through vulnerability and genre-blending.
Hair and makeup were provided by the Paul Mitchell School of Staten Island, overseen by Key MUA Diana Varvaro, while custom nails by Sumika Nakamura complete the beauty narrative. Mocktails are curated by Michael Toscano of Pathfinder, alongside partners including Seraphim, Clean Cause, Salud, and Dirty Virgin.
The show is produced by Alexandra Nyman and Claire Comai, styled by Benjamen Adams, and features performances by ballerina Nisa Tatum and pianist Amilyah Robinson, underscoring Break Free’s commitment to storytelling through movement and sound.
Notably, the New York State Office of Mental Health was in attendance, providing education and resources… bringing advocacy directly into the heart of Fashion Week.
Design: Monday Blues | Model: Brian Metcalf (@bametcalf1) | Photo by @christianmercadophotography
Design: Monday Blues | Model: Gunpreetz Singh (@gunpreetz) | Photo by Jack Hathaway (@COSPLAY)
Faces that Defined the Runway
At Break Free NYFW, the runway was shaped as much by presence as by purpose. Among our favorite models of the night were Olivia Gear (@oliviagearr), whose confident stride reflected her growing international momentum, and Anya Marcon (@anyalabanya), delivering refined, editorial poise. Both models walked for LadyCat by Lex as well as REHAB New York.
Standout moments also came from Kelly Arjen (@kellyarjen), Naomi Parisette (@naomiruth377), and Riona (@_rionakd), each bringing individuality and emotional depth to the runway.
On the menswear side, Brian Metcalf (@bametcalf1), wearing CFDA Designer Monday Blues, Studio., for their opening look. Brian added edge and narrative when he also walked for Aldo’s House of Formals, joined by others on the runway such as Gunpreetz Singh (@gunpreetz) walking for Monday Blues and Aldo’s House of Formals.
Jimmy Tan (@jxmmytan), Alexander Wang (@alexanderzwang) and Miguel Contreras (@_ken.pachii) brought Aldo’s House of Formals to life when they walked the Runway in men’s formalwear showcasing the many ways of wearing black. Jimmy, Brian, Gunpreetz, Alexander and Miguel were spotted wearing @Aldos_Formals which was a collection designed to elevate menswear.
Together, these models embodied what Break Free stands for… authenticity, visibility, and fashion with purpose.
Design: REHAB New York
Design: REHAB New York
VIP Guest there to Support
Healing made Visible, Stories Honored
As New York Fashion Week continues to evolve, Break Free stands apart not as a spectacle, but as a statement. It reminds the industry that fashion’s greatest power lies not in illusion, but in truth. The inner part of us comes to life on the runway, from the designers’ healing, their authenticity, their darkest and brightest moments are put into a form that we can all see and be a part of in some way. The models then bring that garment to life… Healing is visible, stories are honored and creativity is not just worn but it is lived.
To learn more visit: @breakfreenyfw
Claire Comai (right) is the designer behind REHAB which was born in New York City, a place that deeply shapes the brand’s visual language through its architecture, nightlife, and raw creative energy. Photo by @anthony_zaccardi
Evita Scoccia, influencer and founder of New York Swim Week was there to support Break Free NYFW on February 11th, 2026. Break Free NYFW is the only charity runway show on the CFDA Calendar. Photo by @@anthony_zaccardi
Credits:
PR: @parisrunwayofficial
Models: @oliviagearr | @anyalabanya | @kellyarjen | @naomiruth377 | @_rionakd | @bametcalf1 | @gunpreetz | @jxmmytan | @alexanderzwang | @_ken.pachii
On site coordinator: @bametcalf1
Paris Runway Official Media Head Photographer: @christianmercadophotography
Paris Runway Official Media Team for Runway & Backstage: @ct_tsai | @cosplay | @julietrinhphotography
Photography add-ons: @tlb.image | @zoostation_photography – Anjie Zhong, Nowshad Sharif Rahi,
Designers who presented: CFDA Designer @mondaybluesstudio | Designer @rehabstudiosny | @aldos_formals | @dmarxxdesign | @ladycatfashion | @oma_customs | @susieelliott66
Backstage and Guest Photography: @anthony_zaccardi
Story: @onceuponatimebrit
