During New York Fashion Week on September 10, Break Free Foundation brought fashion and advocacy together for what organizers described as the only charity runway event on the CFDA calendar.
Founded by Alexandra Nyman, Break Free is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit addressing eating disorders, addiction and mental health. Its Recovery on the Runway showcase has grown into a platform where emerging fashion talent shares the spotlight with a message rarely given such prominence during Fashion Week: recovery deserves to be seen.
Behind the showcase’s continued growth is REHAB STUDIOS, founded by Break Free VP and Creative Director Claire Comai. Originally created as a clothing brand inspired by Comai’s own recovery journey, REHAB has evolved into a creative studio with a growing presence within New York fashion and public relations.
“The success we’ve had with Break Free has been incredible… far beyond what I expected,” Comai said. “I can’t wait to see what we pull off next season.”
A Runway of Distinct Perspectives
The evening brought together collections from Mohikas, REN HAIXI, Tracy Toulouse, No Sesso and Eesha Patel, alongside a ready-to-wear presentation from NIKITA.
Each brought a distinctly different point of view. CFDA scholarship recipient REN HAIXI explored lace through sculptural silhouettes and seamless construction, while Eesha Patel’s Shrujal brought craftsmanship and symbolism to menswear and womenswear.
Anishnaabe (Ojibway) designer Tracy Toulouse, through Swirling Wind Designs, brought Indigenous storytelling and traditional techniques into a contemporary fashion context.
Mohikas, founded by Archana Soni and featured in VOGUE, presented UNBOUND BY MOHIKAS, a collection celebrating freedom, individuality and resilience, with a message centered on having the courage to move beyond the boundaries we sometimes place upon ourselves.
New York-based NIKITA, founded by Canadian designer Nikita Hoehn, presented Eat Me, Love Me, Fear Me, revisiting Y2K glamour through a more sophisticated and materially focused perspective.
No Sesso, 2022 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist, closed the Runway Show with a standout collection.
Set inside The Mezzanine in downtown Manhattan, the showcase was supported by sponsors Sonela Beauty, Quit With Jones and Forward__Space, with Leah David and Keerit Kaur leading backstage styling.
Paris Runway Official: From Backstage to the Fashion Pages
For the second consecutive season, Paris Runway Official supported Break Free, this time arriving with an extensive media team led by journalist Brit Olivia to document the runway and the stories surrounding it.
The Paris Runway Photography Team included Gabriela Candela, named Best Fashion Photographer 2026, alongside Christian Mercado, Torry Sledge, Ekaterina Votinova, Asifa, Aleksey Zemlevskiy, Anthony Zaccardi, Chia Ta Tsai, Leo the Visualist, SD Herzog and Hira Ansari.
Backstage and guest gifting added another layer to the Fashion Week experience, with products from YISE Beauty, Redken, Charlotte Tilbury, Misfits Protein Bars, LOVE CORN, Simply Gum, SmartSweets and GORGIE.
The partnership has also helped carry Break Free beyond the venue, with coverage appearing across Harper’s Bazaar, Grazia, Glamour, Fashion X and Fashion Trendsetter.
CFDA Member Erickson Beamon x Wàngda: An Editorial Moment
Beyond the runway, Break Free became the setting for a special fashion editorial pairing Erickson Beamon with Wàngda, facilitated by Brian Metcalf, Paris Runway Official and Showroom Seven.
CFDA member Erickson Beamon has built a distinctive place in fashion through statement jewelry worn by cultural icons including Madonna and Lady Gaga.
The jewelry house was paired with Wàngda, designer Wangda Chen’s emerging New York menswear and ready-to-wear label. Chen was named the 2026 Fashion Group International Rising Star Award winner for Men’s Ready-to-Wear.
Models Brian Metcalf and Anna Alimani appeared in the editorial, bringing together Wàngda’s contemporary design language and Erickson Beamon’s unmistakable jewelry.
The Luxury of Being Seen
For all the fashion surrounding Break Free, its most memorable statement wasn’t defined by a single garment.
Activists, creatives and individuals connected to recovery walked alongside the collections, carrying a shared message: there is life beyond recovery.
In an industry where luxury has traditionally been measured by exclusivity, craftsmanship and beauty, Break Free offered another interpretation. Here, there was value in vulnerability, strength in resilience and power in using fashion’s visibility to make people feel seen.
For one evening in Manhattan, the clothes opened the conversation—but the people gave it meaning.
At Break Free, the runway wasn’t about perfection. It was about what it takes to keep walking.
Credits:
PR: Paris Runway Official @parisrunwayofficial
Writer/Journalist: Brit Olivia @onceuponatimebrit
Show Producer: @rehabstudiosny @clairecomai
Show: Break Free: @breakfreenyfw
Backstage & Model Coordinator: Gunpreet Singh @gunpreetz
Designers: @eesha._.patel @tracytoulouse @mohi_kas @renhaixi @nosesso @whoisnikita
Paris Runway Models: @hollywoodeyes @oliviagearr @bametcalf1 @kellyarjen @travelholic_momma_ @onekatrinaperez @asking_alix13 @susanneschroedter @theamandamatthews @lexi_labour8 @anyalabanya @heatherhhawes @sureshpnycmodel @deborahvonj @luc1e.guman0va @farilicious
Runway & Backstage Paris Runway Photographers: Christian Mercado @christianmercadophotography, SD Herzog @sd_herzog_photo, Gabriela Candela @elladelarte, Hira Ansari @hansari3090 and Torry Sledge @the_quantum_lotus
CFDA Member Erickson Beamon and Designer Wàngda: @showroomseven @mandieerickson
Paris Runway Photographer for Erickson Beamon and Wàngda: Gabriela Candela @elladelarte
Goody Bag Sponsors for VIP Guest and Models: @Redken @charlottetilbury @yisebeauty @simplygum @getgorgie @lovecorn_snacks @smartsweets @eatmisfits
