Besides financial services, the “art banking” is one of the popular services used by UniCredit Bank’s Private Banking clients. Investments in art are not a desired service, whether due to valorisation of their finances or due to emotional value. This is why the UniCredit Bank offers its Private Banking clients the opportunity to invest in works of art through the UniCredit Private Banking. Advisory in investment in works of art has been provided for our client for several years in cooperation with the Soga auction house in Slovakia, or through UniCredit Private Banking Italy - in cooperation with the Christie’s and Sotheby’s auction houses.

Private banking is about exclusive services and exclusive private social events. “Therefore, I am very glad that tonight, on the premises provided by the SOGA auction house, we can introduce the unique limited edition of fashion designs made by a successful young Slovak artist, Boris Hanecka, to our Private Banking clients”, Raymond Kopka, Head of Private Banking, said at today’s press conference.

This evening, the exclusive fashion designs of Boris Hanecka will be presented on models of 9 fragile porcelain dolls, representing a limited edition with certificate guaranteeing its authenticity. This will probably be the first world fashion show of such nature. The porcelain dolls are dressed in unique clothes designed by Boris Hanecka exclusively for this event. Organic hair and handmade make-up of the dolls was procured by professional visagistes and stylists. Their auction will connect the private banking with philanthropy.  The proceeds from sale will be given to the MAGNA CHILDREN AT RISK (DETI V NÚDZI) civic association, which has been providing humanitarian aid, mainly to third-world countries children, since 2001.The porcelain dolls auction will be accompanied by a prominent internal auctioneer of the SOGA auction house, Nina Gazovicova, who has rich experience in making commercial auctions as well as charity events. The upset price per one doll is EUR 500. 

Boris Hanecka emphasized that “fashion, which is a part of art, is not a symbol of vanity, as it is quite often understood by society. It is a part of art, a part of our being, and it affects not only the fashion creators and holders, but the entire society as well”“

“Only the very presence of the guests at today’s auction is for me a demonstration of recognition, appreciation and trust in what I have devoted my entire energies to – fashion as a part of art, and which I believe makes sense”, Boris Hanecka adds.

“I will be glad for each and every porcelain model sold, whose frailty and originality symbolises the fragility of being of children of third-world countries. It is them who depend on our financial aid. They live in countries which cannot fully take care of their own people. Such people depend on the help of others”, Raymond Kopka, the Head of Private Banking of UniCredit Bank, emphasizes.

Mere three euros can provide for two meals daily for one child for the entire month. Health care in hospital for as much as 8 for one month, or complete one-month nutrition for as much as 160 children can be provided for EUR 500, which is the upset price of one porcelain doll.

UniCredit Bank in Slovakia has been supporting the activities of the Magna Children at Risk civic association for several years. The cooperation was triggered by a unique project of MAGNA, a charity credit card owing to which the bank’s clients contribute with 0.5% per transaction to help the children from third-world countries, with the UniCredit Bank contributing with the same amount. At the end of the last year, the cooperation has been extended by implementation of MAGNA, a debit payment card issued to an account, using which card holders contribute with EUR 0.20 per transaction, regardless of the amount of payment, for the purposes of MAGNA’s activities. UniCredit Bank also joined the MAGNA Saviour project by making a standing order owing to which the bank’s clients and employees can contribute with an amount of at least EUR 3 for the purposes of helping children in need on a regular basis. According to the amount of regular contribution (EUR 3, 6, 9, 15, 30, 60), the children in crisis-stricken areas can be provided with regular meals, nutrition, medical products and medical care.

Media contacts:
Identity & Communication
Zuzana Dudakova
Tel.: +421 2 4950 2303
zuzana.dudakova@unicreditgroup.sk

Magna Children at Risk is a Slovak humanitarian health organization whose mission is to provide medical and social, or material aid to children and their families in crisis-stricken parts of the world, realize humanitarian and long-term projects in the world aimed at helping people in need, caused either by poverty, diseases, war or environmental devastation. Medical care comprises consultancy with a doctor, hospital care, nutrition care, vaccination, surgery, obstetrics, new-born infants care, therapeutic care or treatment of HIV/AIDS patients. If necessary, MAGNA reconstructs or builds medical facilities. 

Boris Hanecka, a young fashion designer, who belongs to the Slovak fashion design elite, studied at the School of Applied Arts of J. Vydra in Bratislava, Division of Ceramics and Porcelain with Academic Sculptor Michal Zdravecky. He studied at Academy of Fine Arts and Design of Bratislava, Division of Fashion Design, from 2001. He is engaged in designing of clothes as well as in styling. He held many fashion shows in Slovakia and abroad. He won several competitions, with the Lifeline Fashion Talent which he was given in 2006 being one of the most important awards. In 2009 Hanecka was awarded a “designer of the year” for contribution to Slovak fashion for 2008. Many celebrities, such as Adela Banasova, Jana Kirschner, Zuzana Fialova, Denisa Dvoncova, Dara Rolins or Zuzana Smatanova, can boast with clothes designed by Boris. His name is however most often connected with Lucia Hablovicova, who he considers his personal muse. He designed for her, for instance, evening robes for the Opera Ball.

About UniCredit Group
UniCredit is a leader among European banks with strong roots in 22 countries and an overall global network present in approximately 50 markets, with over 9,600 branches and more than 162,000 employees (data as of 31 December 2010). The aim of our professional engagement is to understand individuals, companies and real life situations, as well as the needs of local communities. We all give concrete answers and real benefits to our clients who are facing various challenges and opportunities.

In the CEE region, UniCredit operates the largest international banking network with nearly 3,900 branches. The Group operates in Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Romania, Austria, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Italy, Turkey and Ukraine.