BMW has revealed photos with three custom MINI models developed by well known fashion designers for this year’s edition of ‘Life Ball’, which is Europe’s biggest HIV/AIDS charity event.
The three custom MINIs have been created by Francisco Costa from Calvin Klein, Diane von Furstenberg and Kenneth Cole and this year’s edition marks the German automaker’s 10th consecutive participation at this charity event.
The 2010 edition Life Ball will take place in Vienna, Austria on July 17 and according to German car maker, sales of previous special edition MINIs have totaled 500,000 Euros so far.
BMW press release :
Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein, Diane von Furstenberg and
Kenneth Cole create three exclusive designer MINIs for a good cause.
Munich/Vienna. This year marks the tenth consecutive
involvement on the part of MINI in Europe’s biggest charity
event in support of HIV/AIDS. The 18th Life Ball takes place in Vienna
on 17th July 2010 and will once again be a hot spot for the
international celebrity set. This flamboyant and extrovert event flies
the flag for tolerance and solidarity. For MINI it provides an ideal
platform on which to showcase its social-political commitment.
Since 2001, one of the chief protagonists at the Life Ball has been a
MINI created by a fashion designer. This year for the first time,
three different MINI models will be embellished by a trio of
world-renowned names from the world of fashion. On behalf of America’s
Calvin Klein, his creative director Francisco Costa will be designing
the MINI Countryman, the brand’s new crossover model. The US fashion
designer with Belgian roots Diane von Furstenberg, meanwhile, will add
her artistic touch to a MINI Hatch, while New York’s Kenneth
Cole will imprint his unmistakable style on a MINI Convertible. These
exclusive collector’s items are to be auctioned on behalf of the
charity supported by the Life Ball, the proceeds going to amfAR (the
Foundation for AIDS Research).
The previous Life Ball MINIs have never failed to thrill with their
outré designs. Indeed, their history reads like a
Who’s Who of the fashion industry: Missoni (2003),
Ferré (2004), Versace (2005), Diesel (2006), Mario Testino
(2007), Agent Provocateur (2008) and, last year, The Blonds for Katy
Perry. Proceeds now total around EUR 500,000.
Life Ball 2010
This year’s Life Ball will take place against a rather special
backdrop, being held to tie in with the 18th International AIDS
Conference that starts in Vienna the day after the big event. On 17th
July, in addition to Vienna’s City Hall and City Hall Square,
the Burgtheater with its Red Ribbon Cotillion Summer Ball and even the
Austrian Parliament – which hosts the amfAR Gala – will be
dedicated to the red ribbon cause.
Based on this year’s motto “Sow the Seeds of
Solidarity!” and the “Earth” theme, the 2010 Life
Ball will be planting its seeds around the world wherever there is a
real need.
