By Paris Runway Official
Break Free NYFW: The Only Charity Runway Show on the Official CFDA Calendar – Redefining Fashion Week Through Healing
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.
Model Olivia Gear @oliviagearr walking for REHAB New York @rehabstudiosny at CFDA Calendar Event Break Free NYFW.
Photo by Nowshad Sharif Rahi @nsr.photos_
Break Free NYFW @breakfreenyfw, 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 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 @christianmercadophotography along with Chia Ta Tsai @ct_tsai and Jack Hathaway @COSPLAY was there to capture moments for publications globally. Anthony Zaccardi @anthony_zaccardi was there to support who later in the week captured Alice + Olivia.
Model Brian A. Metcalf @bametcalf1 walking for CFDA Designer Monday Blues, Studio @mondaybluesstudio at NYFW.
Photo by Christian Mercado Photography @christianmercadophotography
Model Gunpreet Singh @gunpreetz walking for CFDA Designer Monday Blues, Studio @mondaybluesstudio at NYFW.
Photo by Jack Hathaway @COSPLAY
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 @aldos_formals, presenting an upcoming collection grounded in personal narrative. Aldo’s House of Formals showcased ‘many ways of wearing black’ on February 11th at Break Free where his models took to the runway in hand crafted formalwear for men.
Dmarxx Design @dmarxxdesign, 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.
LadyCat by Lex @ladycatfashion, 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.
Model Olivia Gear @oliviagearr walking for LadyCat by Lex @ladycatfashion at CFDA Calendar Event Break Free NYFW.
Photo by Christian Mercado Photography @christianmercadophotography
Model ANYA @anyalabanya walking for LadyCat by Lex @ladycatfashion at CFDA Calendar Event Break Free NYFW.
Photo by Christian Mercado Photography @christianmercadophotography
Model Riona @_rionakd walking for LadyCat by Lex @ladycatfashion at CFDA Calendar Event Break Free NYFW.
Photo by Christian Mercado Photography @christianmercadophotography
Model Naomi Ruth Parisette @naomiruth377 walking for LadyCat by Lex @ladycatfashion at CFDA Calendar Event Break Free NYFW.
Photo by Christian Mercado Photography @christianmercadophotography
Model Kelly Arjen @kellyarjen walking for LadyCat by Lex @ladycatfashion at CFDA Calendar Event Break Free NYFW.
Photo by Christian Mercado Photography @christianmercadophotography
Monday Blues, Studio. @mondaybluesstudio, 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.
Open Mind Apparel @oma_customs, founded by Aaron Thompson, offers exclusive one-of-one designs rooted in diversity, individuality, and the philosophy of “open your mind and stand out”.
Model Brian A. Metcalf @bametcalf1 walking for Open Mind Apparel @oma_customs at CFDA Calendar Event Break Free NYFW.
Photo by Jack Hathaway @COSPLAY
REHAB New York @rehabstudiosny, founded by Claire Comai @clairecomai, 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.
Claire Comai @clairecomai designer of REHAB New York @rehabstudiosny was photographed backstage by Paris Runway Official Photographer Chia-Ta Tsai @ct_tsai.
Susie Elliott @susieelliott66, 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. February 11th was a moment we were able to capture with her.
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.
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.
Model @unfilteredreign walking for REHAB New York @rehabstudiosny at CFDA Calendar Event Break Free NYFW.
Photo by Longbow Image @tlb.image
Model Olivia Gear @oliviagearr walking for REHAB New York @rehabstudiosny at CFDA Calendar Event Break Free NYFW.
Photo by Christian Mercado Photography @christianmercadophotography
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.
Model ANYA @anyalabanya walking for REHAB New York @rehabstudiosny at CFDA Calendar Event Break Free NYFW.
Photo by Christian Mercado Photography @christianmercadophotography
Model Kelly Arjen @kellyarjen walking for REHAB New York @rehabstudiosny at CFDA Calendar Event Break Free NYFW.
Photo by Christian Mercado Photography @christianmercadophotography
Model Naomi Ruth Parisette @naomiruth377 walking for REHAB New York @rehabstudiosny at CFDA Calendar Event Break Free NYFW.
Photo by Christian Mercado Photography @christianmercadophotography
Model Riona @_rionakd walking for REHAB New York @rehabstudiosny at CFDA Calendar Event Break Free NYFW.
Photo by Christian Mercado Photography @christianmercadophotography
Model Riona @_rionakd walking for REHAB New York @rehabstudiosny at CFDA Calendar Event Break Free NYFW.
Photo by Christian Mercado Photography @christianmercadophotography
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.
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, whose confident stride reflected her growing international momentum, and Anya Marcon, delivering refined, editorial poise. Both models walked for LadyCat by Lex as well as REHAB New York.
Standout moments also came from Kelly Arjen, Naomi Ruth Parisette, and Riona, each bringing individuality and emotional depth to the runway.
On the menswear side, Brian A. Metcalf, 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 walking for Monday Blues and Aldo’s House of Formals.
Model Brian A. Metcalf @bametcalf1 walking for Aldo’s House of Formals @aldos_formals at CFDA Event Break Free NYFW.
Photo by Christian Mercado Photography @christianmercadophotography
Model Miguel Contreras @_ken.pachii walking for Aldo’s House of Formals @aldos_formals at CFDA Event Break Free NYFW.
Photo by Christian Mercado Photography @christianmercadophotography
Jimmy Tan, Alexander Wang and Miguel Contreras 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 Aldo’s House of Formals which was a collection designed to elevate menswear.
Model Alexander Wang @alexanderzwang walking for Aldo’s House of Formals @aldos_formals at CFDA Event Break Free NYFW.
Photo by Christian Mercado Photography @christianmercadophotography
Model Gunpreet Singh @gunpreetz walking for Aldo’s House of Formals @aldos_formals at CFDA Event Break Free NYFW.
Photo by Christian Mercado Photography @christianmercadophotography
Jimmy Tan @jxmmytan walking for Aldo’s House of Formals @aldos_formals at CFDA Event Break Free NYFW.
Photo by Christian Mercado Photography @christianmercadophotography
Together, these models embodied what Break Free stands for… authenticity, visibility, and fashion with purpose.
VIP Guest there to Support
Evita Scoccia, influencer and founder of New York Swim Week was there to support along with editors, creatives, influencers, designers, photographers, models and media teams from all over the globe.
Evita Scoccia, influencer and founder of New York Swim Week
Photo by Anthony Zaccardi @anthony_zaccardi
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: Break Free NYFW @breakfreenyfw | https://linktr.ee/breakfreenyfw
CREDITS:
PR Agency: Paris Runway Official @parisrunwayofficial
Story: @onceuponatimebrit
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 @nsr.photos_ Anjie Zhong
Designers who presented: CFDA Designer @mondaybluesstudio @rehabstudiosny @aldos_formals @dmarxxdesign @ladycatfashion @oma_customs @susieelliott66
Backstage and Guest Photography: @anthony_zaccardi @ct_tsai
Content and images courtesy of Paris Runway Official.
Tags: Accessories, Aldo Segama, Aldo's House of Formals, Alexander Wang, Alexandra Nyman, Alice + Olivia, Amilyah Robinson, Anthony Zaccardi, ANYA, Anya Marcon, anyalabanya, apparel, artisanal, Benjamen Adams, Break Free Foundation, Brian Metcalf, Chelsea Square, Chia-Ta Tsai, Christian Mercado, Claire Comai, Clean Cause, clothing, collection, designer spotlight, Diana Varvaro, Dirty Virgin., Evita Scoccia, fashion, fashion designers, Gabi DeMartino, Gunpreet Singh, Gunpreetz Singh, Jack Hathaway, Jimmy Tan, Kelly Arjen, Lady Gaga, Leather, Longbow Image, Manhattan, menswear, mental health, Michael Toscano, Miguel Contreras, Monday Blues Studio, Naomi Ruth Parisette, New York Fashion Week, New York State Office of Mental Health, New York Swim Week, Nisa Tatum, Nowshad Sharif Rahi, NYFW, Olivia Gear, Paris Runway Official, Paul Mitchell School of Staten Island, Riona, runway, runway shows, Salud, Seraphim, silk, Sumika Nakamura, Susie Elliott, The Refectory, Top, tulle, wearable art, Wolf & Badger NYC, womenswear
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