Break Free Foundation’s "Recovery on the Runway" Marks Another Empowering Showcase, Announces Next Event During New York Fashion Week

Break Free Foundation is proud to announce the overwhelming success of its seventh Recovery on the Runway designer showcase, which took place last Sunday, October 6 in New York City. The evening was a powerful celebration of resilience, beauty, and the human spirit, with inspiring models and designers coming together to support breast cancer awareness and recovery from substance use.

The event, held at DCTV in Lower Manhattan, featured breathtaking designs from a lineup of exceptional designers, including Project Runway’s Nancy Volpe Beringer, Bold Swim, Half-Flat, Chablis Designs featuring Just Us Teenz, AnaOno, Andie Swim, and Thistle and Spire. Each collection highlighted inclusivity, sustainability, and body diversity, underscoring the evening's theme of empowerment and recovery.

Volpe Beringer presented pieces shown during her season of Project Runway to the public for the first time. Her experience as a designer has strengthened her determination to promote more diversity, sustainability, and inclusivity in the fashion industry. An array of challenges inspired Volpe Beringer to create The Vault by Volpe Beringer. It is the world's first and only fully accessible designer luxury platform which offers adaptable options and complimentary consultations for the disabled community.

The evening’s runway show was elevated by models who had undergone single or double mastectomies, many of whom were members of Flat Out Love, a nonprofit organization that empowers individuals post-breast amputation. Together with the Break Free Foundation, the event championed the importance of recovery, whether from substance use, mental health, or breast cancer.

The event’s host, Claire Comai, a person in recovery for five-years and prominent recovery advocate, and DJ Price I$ Right kept the atmosphere vibrant and uplifting throughout the night, making the showcase not only a fashion event but also a celebration of triumph over adversity.

This edition of Recovery on the Runway was made possible through key partnerships with Pathfinder, who held up a pop-up non-alcoholic bar run by Michael Toscano, The Sober Curator, Just Us Teenz, and Flat Out Love. The collaboration between these organizations reinforced the event's message of recovery, self-acceptance, and community support:

Proceeds from the evening were split between the Break Free Foundation and Flat Out Love, helping to fund scholarships for individuals seeking treatment for substance use disorders and empowering breast cancer survivors to foster mental health and body acceptance.

As a testament to the ongoing commitment to this cause, Break Free Foundation is thrilled to announce its next Recovery on the Runway showcase, to be held during New York Fashion Week on Saturday, February 15, 2025. The event promises to bring another stunning display of fashion, recovery, and advocacy, continuing to shine a light on those who have found hope and healing through their journeys.

“Last Sunday’s show was about more than just fashion—it was about the incredible resilience of our models and the power of recovery,” said Alexandra Nyman, founder of the Break Free Foundation. “We are excited to carry this momentum forward into New York Fashion Week, where we will continue to share stories of recovery, break down stigmas, and celebrate the beauty of life after addiction and breast cancer.”

For more information on Recovery on the Runway’s upcoming events, sponsorships, and how to get involved, please visit breakfreefoundation.org.

The Break Free Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports individuals and families affected by mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorders by providing scholarships for recovery treatment. Through our fashion-forward events and advocacy work, we raise awareness, promote harm reduction, and empower individuals on their recovery journeys. For more information, visit breakfreefoundation.org.