On an ordinary evening, the Basking Ridge Country Club became something entirely unexpected: a full-scale fashion arena pulsing with spotlights, anticipation and the unmistakable energy of a runway moment that means something.
This wasn’t New York Fashion Week—yet it felt like it.
It was Raise the Runway, the debut fashion showcase created by Raise the Volume, a local nonprofit that’s rewriting what community fundraising can look like. Instead of charity auctions or silent raffles, the organization chose a different vehicle: bold self-expression, local design talent and a runway centered on inclusion.
And the result? A night Basking Ridge is still talking about.
A Mission Born in a Moment of Need
Raise the Volume didn’t begin as an events brand. It began as two mothers—Vanessa Berger and Cristina Luzaj—trying to navigate an overwhelming year.
Both were pregnant in 2020, both were deeply involved in charitable work and both were watching the world shift in ways they couldn’t ignore. For Berger, who has lived with hearing loss her entire life, the pandemic cut communication off at the root. Masks blocked lip-reading, and suddenly daily life became even harder.
“It impacted me tremendously,” she explains. “I always wanted to give back—especially to the deaf community.”
Together, the friends followed an instinct to start something small, local and meaningful. That “something” quickly grew into wine nights, yoga fundraisers, kids’ spa days, themed scavenger hunts and multiple golf outings.
Every event sold out. Every initiative expanded the mission. And each time they promised themselves a break, someone would ask, “What are you doing next?”
They always said yes.
The Spark That Became a Runway
Raise the Runway began almost accidentally—over coffee, conversation and the collective sense that Raise the Volume was ready for a stage with greater impact.
“We wanted to make Raise the Volume bigger,” Luzaj says. “And then we realized—why not create our own fashion week right here?”
They wanted edge, storytelling, emotion—something that would feel more Manhattan than Main Street. With guidance from fashion expert Rachel Willingham, founder of the brand rach.will, the team built a full experience: a VIP cocktail hour at 6 p.m., a packed general admission line at 7 and a 7:30 show designed to surprise.
This wasn’t just fashion.
This was fashion with purpose.
The Designers Who Defined the Night
The roster reflected both intention and variety:
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Athletifreak – energetic, athletic, unapologetically bold
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Camden Road – polished, wearable, community-rooted
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rach.will – editorial edge from designer Rachel Willingham
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Love Core Apparel – mission-driven pieces raising awareness
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après – charming styles for the younger set
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Foxy Fable – a high-fashion vintage online boutique
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The Monogram Corner – personalized pieces with hometown appeal
But one collection delivered an especially moving moment.
Love Core Apparel: The Heart of the Runway
Designer Nickie Mel of Love Core Apparel, a deaf resident of Scotch Plains, initially hesitated—not out of insecurity, but because she wasn’t sure her collection was large enough for a full runway presentation.
Berger reassured her immediately.
“I told her, ‘You absolutely belong here,’” Berger recalls.
Love Core’s models—all deaf, CODA or connected to the deaf community—walked the runway with calm, steady confidence. Many guests didn’t realize the significance at first, but the subtlety made the impact even deeper.
“That was the point,” Berger says. “Their presence belongs on any runway.”
A Community That Showed Up for Something Bigger
More than 200 guests filled the club—neighbors, friends, local business owners and families who have supported Raise the Volume since its early days. The applause was loud. The shopping afterward was even louder.
Boutiques donated portions of their sales back to the nonprofit, strengthening the scholarship fund for deaf and hard-of-hearing students—students the organization hopes to reach more widely.
“We’ve raised the money,” Berger emphasizes. “Now we need to raise awareness. We want more people to apply.”
What Comes Next: Building an Annual Tradition
The founders are already thinking ahead. They envision Raise the Runway returning next year, evolving into a signature annual event—bigger, more diverse, and even more immersive.
“We want to expand—bring in more designers, widen our reach, elevate the production,” Luzaj says. “There’s so much potential.”
Raise the Volume invites boutiques and designers interested in participating in next year’s show to reach out.
Because if history is any indication, the next idea will appear organically—a suggestion, a partnership, an unexpected “What if?”
And they’ll say yes.
They always do.
Learn More, Apply for Scholarships or Inquire for Next Year’s Show
Visit raisethevolume.org for event updates, scholarship information, or to contact the team about participating in the next Raise the Runway showcase.