MINI Purple People Helper

Past Life Ball MINIs have been designed by Donatella Versace, Gianfranco Ferre, Diane von Furstenberg, Francisco Costa (Calvin Klein), The Blonds by Katy Perry, DSQUARED, Renzo Rosso/Diesel and Agent Provocateur.

For Sozzani, who fittingly is a MINI owner, the inspiration was floral, and applied to the MINI Roadster, the first open-top 2-seater in the MINI brand's history. The Franca Sozzani MINI was unveiled at the 20th Life Ball in Vienna, Austria on May 20 in support of AIDS LIFE.

Sozzani decorated the roof of the 184 hp MINI Roadster - which has a top speed of 227 kph - in a stylishly intricate floral design which, in combination with Deepest Purple matt paintwork (which is very "of the moment" apparently!) and gold hallmark MINI rally stripes, has resulted in a striking work of automotive art. You won't miss it in the carpark, that's for sure!

Inside the car, lavishly printed leather for the instruments and brass-coloured touches on the circular elements add the icing on the cake.

Billed as the most influential woman in the Italian fashion scene, Sozzani gave her creativity free reign in the design of the special one-off vehicle.

"The concept behind the MINI customisation 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. 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."

In front of an audience of around 43,000, Sozzani's one-off creation went under the auctioneer's hammer at the AIDS Solidarity Gala, raising a donation total of 54,000 euros for HIV projects.

images: BMW Group/MINI

Ed's Note: In 2010, US fashion acccessories designer Kenneth Cole was one of three chosen to customise a MINI. He chose a MINI convertible and decorated it with 8,000 studs - all applied by hand!