Naples Fashion Week shines light on domestic violence with charity brunch

NAPLES, Fla. — Naples Fashion Week kicked off with a philanthropic twist on International Women's Day.

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A brunch event at Sails Restaurant on Fifth Avenue raised support for the Shelter for Abused Women and Children.

The event featured a unique runway show set between brunch tables, with women celebrating women.

"Fashion is a way to create the drive for philanthropy," said Roberta Beranek, CEO of Naples Fashion Week.

The event aimed to raise awareness for domestic violence, an issue affecting many in the community.

"Right here in Naples, we would never think that domestic violence is a serious issue and it is. It affects everybody, our neighbors, our sisters, people living next door to us, that we would never assume," said Beranek.

Despite Naples' picturesque reputation, many families still need help.

"Last year in Naples in Collier County alone, we had almost 1600 calls to our domestic violence hotline, and only about one in about three or four actually pick up the phone and call," said Patti Erwood, president of the Shelter for Abused Women and Children.

The message resonated with a crowded Sails Restaurant filled with supporters, models and designers.

"You don't see it because we wrap up Naples in such a pretty package, and everything isn't so pretty. And that bubble we live in, those people that are making those calls don't think it's a bubble," said Erwood.

For Sails Restaurant, hosting the brunch was an easy decision.

"This is only one little way that we can say thank you to the community, so we organized a brunch for the shelter and anything that we can do to support the community," said Vejko Pavicevic, co-founder of Sails Restaurant.

Naples Fashion Week will officially return on March 27.

"Naples needs that new, fresh image of the fashion week like every other city on the world. So it's important, you know, that we have that representation too," said Wilfredo Manuel of Naples Fashion Week.