The gown worn by British actress Keira Knightley at this year’s Oscars ceremony sold for $7,855 ( £4,301) in an online auction for leading aid charity Oxfam during an internet auction to fund relief work in East Africa. The burgundy silk-taffeta one-shoulder gown, deep claret taffeta silk gown was custom-made by the designer Vera Wang for Knightley. The gown was bought by a bidder based in Chicago, Oxfam official Katie Abbotts said Monday.
One bidder from the United States topped dozens of potential buyers from around the world, all desperate to own a dress worn by one of the most sought-after actresses in the world. Abbotts said 79 bidders had competed for the gown on the Internet auction Web site eBay. “We know little about the winner, but from looking at their profile, we know they are from Chicago. We have contacted them by e-mail and asked them to get in touch,” said Abbotts. A casino and a used-car salesman were among other bidders and 2,500 users logged on to watch the closing minutes of the auction, she said.
Oxfam spokeswoman Katie Abbotts said the charity had been “absolutely delighted” with the “generous bids” received, and described the dress as an “amazing donation”.
“It’s brilliant that this dress has raised this much,” Knightley said in a statement. “I know it will go a long way to help the people facing this food crisis in East Africa. All of us can do something to support this fantastic work and it will make a real difference.”
Knightley, whose films include Bend It Like Beckham, Pirates of the Caribbean and Pride and Prejudice, had approached Oxfam personally with the gift. Wang supported the decision to put the dress - a U.S. size two - up for sale. She displayed it at her Manhattan flagship store while the online auction took place last month.
The proceeds of the auction will provide enough food to feed 5,000 children for a month in Tanzania. An estimated 11 million east Africans face starvation in the drought that has hit nomadic herding communities in countries such as Kenya, Somalia and Tanzania.
Paul Smith-Lomas, the charity’s East Africa director, said one of the worst droughts in a decade has devastated livestock and threatened nomadic herding communities in countries including Kenya and Somalia. “The money Keira’s dress has raised will make a vital contribution to Oxfam’s work helping the 11 million people at risk,” Smith-Lomas said.
Knightley added she was happy to help with the appeal. “This is such an amazing dress and I am really pleased to be able to donate it to Oxfam. “I have seen the TV reports on the horrendous drought in East Africa and I know how desperate things have become, so I am happy to be able to do something to help. Oxfam’s teams are working hard to distribute food and provide clean drinking water, as well as giving longer term support to help people rebuild their lives.”
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