Fashion week can be exhilarating and stressful, leading to important discussions about mental health. The pressure to excel and meet lofty expectations can impact the well-being of designers, models, and others involved. It’s vital for the fashion community to prioritize self-care and support, raise awareness about mental health, and seek help when necessary. Balancing creativity with mental well-being is crucial for a sustainable life and rewarding fashion career.
NYFW February 8-14, 2024
By Angela Redding | Los Angeles, CA | Hollywood Beat magazine | February 10, 2024
Photos: Courtesy of Break Free NYFW
What comes to mind when you think about New York Fashion Week? glitz and splendor? Models strutting along a catwalk? Mental Well-Being? The Break Free Designer Showcase makes a strong point about how recovery affects all sectors of society and should be recognized internationally.
Every season, The Break Free Foundation is the only non-profit whose activism is as colorful as the looks that walk the catwalk.
Mental Health is Just as Important as Physical Health
- Mental health is a crucial aspect of overall well-being. It encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, impacting how we think, feel, and act.
- Keep in mind that mental health is just as important as physical health, and it’s okay to seek help when facing challenges.
Fashion Designers Unite to Champion Mental Well-Being
Fashion designers Tyrone Chablis of Chablis Designs, Devan Markiewicz of Dmarxx Design, Alexandra Nyman of LadyCat, Michael Moss of Big Man Culture, At Night We Prey, and Aisha Lee of Me by Lee Boutique are teaming up this season at NYFW to promote mental health and recovery.
The Break Free Designer Showcase
The Break Free Designer Showcase, which takes place this Monday, February 12th at 6 p.m., defies conventional fashion conventions by casting mental health and recovery rights activists as models and designers.
Through their creations, these activists hope to raise awareness of the critical problems with mental health, drug abuse, and co-occurring disorders in the fashion industry and beyond.
Proceeds
The Break Free Foundation’s scholarship fund, which offers low- or no-cost scholarships to individuals seeking treatment for a substance use disorder by attending an inpatient or outpatient program, is the beneficiary of the showcase’s revenues.
Guest Speakers
The founder of The Sober Curator Alysse Bryson, a recovering nursing coach and person in recovery Kate Vitela, a local community activist Sarah Blas, and Alexandra Nyman, the creator of the Break Free Foundation, are among the guest speakers.
Lexi Martin, an advocate for body positivity, will walk the runway. Lexi Martin said, “I feel very drawn to the [Break Free Foundation] and its mission of inclusivity as well as helping to end the stigma surrounding mental health,” in reference to her future performance on the runway. “My recent single, ‘SUPERPOWER,’ addresses this subject that is so dear to me.”
Listening to the recently released, number-one song live at Break Free will be truly an amazing gift for attendees.
Supporters
The showcase is supported by Dance Safe, Rainier Center, Safe Project Us, New York Makeup Academy, Paul Mitchell School, Grüvi, Soirée, Atmosphere Brewery, The Sober Curator, Rehab Studios, NAMI NYC.
Soirée, founded by Margaret Josephs of the Real Housewives of New Jersey, will host an exclusive tasting of their product line, featuring fruity and floral notes, before the show begins.
Margaret, in an interview with People Magazine, shares her decision to live without alcohol, citing her mother’s unhealthy relationship with alcohol and her desire to maintain control while still being the life of the party.
Tickets
Visit Eventbrite to purchase tickets for this groundbreaking event, which takes place on Monday, February 12 at the Prince George Ballroom, 15E 27th Street.
Are You in Need of Help?
Take the First Step to Seek Help When Dealing with Mental Health or Substance Abuse
Getting help is essential when facing challenges related to mental health or substance abuse.
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