Models Strut Their Stuff in Support of a Cause
By Contributor to The Sober Curator: TeQoa Griffith
Last Sunday, I had the pleasure of covering a runway show in New York City that was more than just a fashion event. It was a powerful celebration of resilience, beauty, and the human spirit. The event aimed to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer, featuring a group of inspiring models who had all undergone breast amputations. The sponsors played a crucial role in making the event successful, providing financial support and raising awareness about their important work.
The Break Free Foundation holds a show twice a year. This show they partnered with three amazing groups :
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Just Us Teenz: In 1993, LaFrances created Just-Us-Kidz Productions, an organization that provides opportunity, platforms, and support to promising young talents throughout the United States. The models for Just-Us-Kidz have traveled throughout the United States, walking the runway for top designers such as GAP, Macy’s, and Lord and Taylor.
Flat Out Love: Empowers individuals post-breast amputation by fostering mental health and body acceptance due to illnesses such as breast cancer and encourages the normalization of living life FLAT.
A Sober and Stylish Affair
The event was held in a modern, chic venue, with a live DJ (DJ Price I$ Right) setting the mood with upbeat and empowering music. The atmosphere was electric as the models gracefully strutted down the runway, showcasing stunning outfits from various designers. The focus was on celebrating the beauty and diversity of the models and highlighting the latest trends in fashion.
Claire Comai hosted the event. No stranger to the fashion industry, she worked her way up from intern to showcasing her collection at NYFW. Claire is a proud member of the “recovering out loud” community, having been sober for five years, and has built a brand, Rehab Studios, to increase awareness for destigmatizing addiction and mental illness.
Sober sips where served up all night long by Michael Toscano of Pathfinder. Pathfinder served three drinks for guests to sample, all NA concoctions featuring Pathfinder and a blend of Ginger Beer from Fever Tree or fresh citrus.
The Designers
Bold Swim: Tiffany Asamoah is the visionary behind BOLD Swim. Our brand embodies a fresh, minimalist take on women’s swimwear. We believe in effortless elegance, crafting pieces that seamlessly blend style with comfort.
Andie Swim: We created Andie to make swimsuit shopping a breeze with stylish staples engineered for modern life. No more adjusting, tugging, or pulling: just well-made, well-cut suits that look great, keep everything where it should be, and feel so comfortable – you’ll forget you’re wearing anything.
Chablis Designs: Tyrone Chablis is one of the architects of the thriving New Jersey fashion scene. Most notable is Chablis’ strong commitment to cultivating and supporting the aspirations of emerging models and designers through his ongoing collaboration with Just Us Teenz, a nonprofit dedicated to providing youth with opportunities in the arts.
Half-Flat is a line for women who have had a unilateral mastectomy. Founded by Lori Olcott, this unicorn designer has been living half-flat for five years.
Dmarxx Design is a handcrafted leather bag company founded in Brooklyn, NY, and currently based in Connecticut. Its bags illustrate where edginess meets elegance and are made for all to wear.
AnaOno: Founder and CEO Dana Donofree scoured the globe after her breast surgery, just looking for a bra that fits, but she continued to show up braless. AnaOno may have been born out of necessity, but today, it gives us a reason to celebrate what makes us different.
Thistle and Spire were proudly female-founded in Brooklyn in 2015. It was created to give a beautiful boost to anyone who needs a lift, literally and figuratively.
Nancy Volpe Beringer: At age 64, Nancy made history as the oldest-ever designer on Project Runway and paved her way to the finale through her creativity, determination, and quest for melding sustainability and inclusivity.
She presented the first-ever zero-waste Project Runway finale at New York Fashion Week, featuring models of all sizes, races, gender identities, and abilities.
Nancy’s Project Runway experience 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 that offers adaptable options and complimentary consultations for the disabled community.
About Break Free Foundation
The Break Free Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing scholarships to those seeking treatment for substance use disorders. Our mission is to aid individuals and families living with behavioral health, substance use, co-occurring disorders, and eating disorders in finding viable, quality treatment and a path to recovery through education, support, harm reduction, and advocacy. Learn more at breakfreefoundation.org.
The evening was a testament to the power of fashion to inspire and bring people together. It was a night of celebration, empowerment, and hope, all in the name of a cause affecting millions worldwide.
By Contributor to The Sober Curator: TeQoa Griffith
SOBRIETY IN THE CITY – NYC: Get ready to dive into NYC’s sober scene—where zero-proof and sober-curious vibes are as iconic as our city’s skyline! We’re your go-to guide for all the coolest spots to enjoy elevated, alcohol-free experiences.
Sober Curator Pro Tip: Check out our new SOBER EVENTS CALENDAR, which features events nationwide. (USA)
Call 988 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It provides free and confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week for people in suicidal crisis or distress. You can learn more about its services here, including its guide on what to do if you see suicidal language on social media. You can also call that number to talk to someone about how you can help a person in crisis. For crisis support in Spanish, call 1-888-628-9454.
For support outside of the US, a worldwide directory of resources and international hotlines is provided by the International Association for Suicide Prevention. You can also turn to Befrienders Worldwide.
Help is Available
If you or someone you love is living with substance use, alcohol misuse, a co-occurring, or a behavioral health disorder, there is hope. The Break Free Foundation aids individuals seeking recovery through the Break Free Scholarship Fund. It sends anyone who lacks the financial resources to attend a recovery center to do so at low to no cost.
Review our Treatment Locator Tool to find the right program near you, as well as our list of Hotlines and Helplines. Click here for a list of regional and national resources. On this road to recovery, no one is alone. We are all in this together.
