How Vintage Boutique The Break Celebrates NYFW

No front row. No waiting in line. No hierarchy. BREAK NYFW – an event run by Brooklyn-based contemporary vintage boutique The Break – wants to, well, break away from some of the more tedious aspects of New York Fashion Week. “Hierarchy is outdated. Inclusivity is in. BREAK NYFW is a celebration of every body, for everybody,” says founder Hannah Richtman in a statement. “My team and I work tirelessly to make each season bigger, better and more diverse. It’s absolutely the most exciting event we throw and we can’t wait to share it with everyone,” Richtman adds.

For BREAK NYFW spring/summer 2019 – a presentation, party and shoppable event on September 7 in Greenpoint, Brooklyn – guests are invited to participate in, rather than spectate at, NYFW. “Brooklyn has always been a beacon of style and creativity, so it’s about time that the high-fashion community responds accordingly,” says Richtman. “I see Brooklyn as a vibrant and wildly genuine source of inspiration and we couldn’t be happier to call it home. There’s more than enough room for all of us in this industry, and by expanding beyond the traditional Manhattan network, we have the opportunity to learn so much more about design and each other.”

The concept for this season’s BREAK NYFW event is instinctual dressing, which aims to make fashion practical, ethical and rooted in community. Richtman, who spearheads the event, culls easy-to-wear and best-selling pieces from The Break’s collection. Jeans, T-shirts, blouses and “simple statement” garments that feel both “nostalgic and relevant” can elevate your wardrobe by helping you live with intention.

“It’s the comfort you feel in wearing clothing that was sourced sustainably, in knowing where your food comes from, in finding your community, in taking Saturday off to go to the market,” Richtman says in the statement. This laid-back notion of wardrobe styling underscores the ideology of BREAK NYFW, and the types of garments guests can see and buy now. Richtman adds, “The city has a distinct vibration during NYFW. At The Break, we’ve spent months preparing for one specific day, and the anticipation (and hard work) is thrilling. NYFW is a great week to experience fashion in all its glory. But beyond this one week, we want to see our community bringing their ‘style A game’ to the streets every damn day.”

Partnering with nearby Brooklyn social space A/D/O, The Break will stage a “farmer’s market” with international small bites and artisanal cocktails. Presentations featuring Richtman’s curated wardrobe selections will take place throughout the day and evening, and guests are invited to shop the boutique at any time. To cap off the event, a public dance party will commence at the A/D/O Atrium, dispensing with the velvet ropes of traditional fashion week parties. Last season’s party hosted more than 1,000 guests.

Guests are encouraged to interact with presentation models, and ask styling questions at The Break. Unlike most NYFW presentations, the garments on display are meant to be worn this season.

In the mercurial fashion world, today is all about the democratization of style. It’s hard to believe that a couple of years ago, tents at Bryant Park or Lincoln Center hosted an exclusive crowd of fashion editors, models and industry insiders who forecasted what was cool – trends that were accessible to the public only through magazines. This September, with events like BREAK NYFW, everyone is invited to be a part of NYFW’s celebration of getting dressed.

For more information about BREAK NYFW, visit The Break.