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Buy a Victoria Beckham dress, help mums with HIV

British fashion designer and former pop star Victoria Beckham is showing her big heart - by giving away 600 pieces of clothing for charity.

The proceeds will help mothers living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa.

That iconic white Dolce and Gabbana dress she wore for the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards is just one of the items to go under the hammer in aid of mothers2mothers (m2m).

The charity works to prevent the transmission of HIV from mothers to babies in nine countries, including South Africa, Swaziland and Kenya.

Spice Girls and more

Other pieces are from her days with the Spice Girls pop group.

Dresses that graced fashion shows, parties and red carpet appearances with husband and former England soccer captain David Beckham are also up for bidding.

The money raised from the auction of Beckham's evening gowns and accessories will be "transformational" for the organization that trains and employs mothers living with HIV to mentor other HIV-positive mothers in their community, m2m founder Mitch Besser, said.


Victoria Beckham will be selling the iconic white Dolce and Gabbana dress (above) she wore for the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, famous red carpet outfits and pieces from days with the Spice Girls. Photos: Fame Pictures, EMI Music

Besser, an obstetrician and gynaecologist by training, said: "We've reached 1.2 million mothers since we started, but with more resources, we can reach more mothers.

"With more reach we prevent more infections and we keep more mothers alive to take care of their kids."

He told Thomson Reuters Foundation: "The funding is absolutely transformational for an organization like ours."

Online fashion outlet Outnet.com will host the private online sale from Aug 20-25.


The fluorescent yellow Roberto Cavalli gown worn for the pre-World Cup party in 2006 at David and Victoria Beckham's country house will be part of the auction. Photo: Rex

Mrs Beckham chose to donate proceeds to m2m after visiting South Africa in February and meeting some of the mothers affected by HIV.

"After spending just a few days with these remarkable women and learning more about the charity from Mitch, and his lovely wife Annie Lennox, I wanted to do as much as I could," she said in a statement.

"It really was a life-changing experience. I've never experienced anything like it."

Sub-Saharan Africa is still the region hardest hit by HIV, with 24.7 million HIV-positive people in 2013.

Women account for 58 per cent of those living with HIV in the region, which is also home to 85 per cent of pregnant women living with HIV, according to UNAIDS.

- Reuters