Franca Sozzani, chief editor of Italian VOGUE, has designed and presented her very own MINI model exclusively to mark the 20th anniversary of the Life Ball charity event. Sozzani designed a special one-off MINI Roadster that was auctioned off at the AIDS Solidarity Gala and raised a donation total of 54,000 euros for HIV projects.
Franca Sozzani, chief editor of Italian VOGUE, has designed and presented her very own MINI model exclusively to mark the 20th anniversary of the Life Ball charity event. Sozzani designed a special one-off MINI Roadster that was auctioned off at the AIDS Solidarity Gala and raised a donation total of 54,000 euros for HIV projects.
Sozzani decorated the MINI Roadster in an intricate floral design, which in combination with very “of the moment” Deepest Purple matte paintwork and gold hallmark MINI rally stripes, produced an impressively complete work of art. Inside the car, lavishly printed leather for the instruments and brass-coloured touches on the circular elements add the icing on the cake.
“The concept behind the MINI customization is inspired by the beautiful and elegant women who in the past used to wear a scarf draped around their head when driving a convertible,” says Sozzani, citing her inspiration. And, as the UN Goodwill Ambassador for Fashion 4 Development adds: “Flowers are a symbol of joy and life. And the Life Ball is always fighting for life and joy.”
Since 2001, MINI has been a regular partner of the Life Ball. In previous years numerous celebrities have left their stylistic imprint on an exclusive MINI model, among them the design team DSQUARED2, star photographer Mario Testino and designer Angela Missoni. “And thanks to the visual signature of Franca Sozzani, the this year’s MINI designed specially for the occasion has similarly become a lifestyle and design highlight in the name of this good cause,” says a delighted Gery Keszler, founder and organiser of the Life Ball.
