Designer touch for MINI at the Life Ball in Vienna

To mark its presence and commitment in Europe’s biggest AIDS charity event, MINI invited Diane von Furstenberg, Kenneth Cole and Calvin Klein Collection’s award-winning Women’s Creative Director Francisco Costa to create the brand’s Life Ball MINIs. Each designer received its favourite model to create a unique version of it to be auctioned at the amfAR Gala in Vienna on 17 July. The money will go to amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research.

Diane von Furstenberg chose the red color to create a big impact on her MINI. Sprinkled with colourful lips, the roof and alloys create a contrast in pure white, with the bonnet adorned with the designer’s initials. According to the fashion designer “Life is love, love is life! I wanted to create something that celebrates life and reminds us of the importance of health. The red colour of the MINI expresses the awareness of HIV/AIDS, the lips represent Diane von Furstenberg. This car is bursting with life and love.”

Opting to work on a MINI Convertible, New Yorker Kenneth Cole created a shiny silver jewel made of fine, brushed metal. The surface of the body is covered in jewelry, which is also reflected in the interior. “In our collection we always aim to bring fashion and function into harmony. And that is precisely what the MINI Convertible stands for. It is at once an elegant and functional car. We designed the body in brushed metal, in line with our autumn/winter accessories line, and lent it our hallmark signature. We hope the MINI will give pleasure to followers of fashion and auto fans alike and command a high price in the amfAR auction,” said the designer.

Finally, Calvin Klein Collection’s award-winning Women’s Creative Director Francisco Costa worked on a MINI Countryman. The fashion designer gave it a minimalist style with each of the front doors bearing the hallmark signature of the Calvin Klein Collection in black reflective rubber.