Mini 2010 Life Ball Series

Mini continues its support in the global battle against with HIV/AIDS with a new round of one-off designs for the 2010 Life Ball, featuring contributions from a trio of fashion icons. Included in this series will be designs from Calvin Klein creative director Francisco Costa, Diane von Furstenberg, and Kenneth Cole. Each of the vehicles will be auctioned off at an event in Vienna on July 17th, kicking off the 18th International AIDS Conference. Further information is available below.

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.

Source: autoblog