By Julia Eskins

Photography courtesy of IDS12

In the spirit of collaborating for a cause, the Interior Design Show (IDS12) will be kicking off its opening night party with a designer-studded Cherish Auction & Exhibit tonight.

The Toronto-based design show will be partnering with ONEXONE, a non-profit initiative to improve the lives of children globally and in Canada’s First Nations communities. Selected fashion, graphic and interior designers will have their re-imagined Magis Julian Chairs auctioned off for charity. With contributing designers including Donna Karan, Piero Lissoni and Philip Sparks, guests could take home a signature designer piece and have 100 per cent of the proceeds go directly to ONEXONE.

IDS12: chairs by Debbie Travis, Atelier Kastelic + Buffey, Piero Lissoni and Philip Sparks.

“ONEXONE’s work resonates for me as they start at the root – with children,” says Shauna Levy, director of the Interior Design Show. “We reached out to our friends in the design and fashion worlds…It unites the industry behind a good cause.”

The iconic Julian children’s chair was the perfect fun and cheeky base for designers to re-design, re-morph and re-create, says Levy.

Shauna Levy, director of the Interior Design Show.

Now in its 14^th year, the Interior Design show has incorporated the silent auction as an annual tradition. Last year, 20 designers put their own spin on the Vitra Panton chair and bids of up to $2,000 flooded in.

With the auction’s previous success, it’s no surprise that the fundraiser has caught the attention of high-profile personalities, including Canadian fashion designers Alfred Sung and Joe Mimran.

It is Alfred Sung’s second year participating as an exhibitor in the four-day show and his first as a Cherish Auction & Exhibit contributor.

“The chair was about Alfred’s iconic style. We wanted to give Julian an accessory, so we made a cushion with a bow tie collar. We thought it was fun and cute and really spoke to Alfred’s personal style,” says Jordin Mimran, creative director of Mimran Group Inc., which represents Alfred Sung and MOON brands, and is partnered with Joe Mimran of Joe Fresh.

Founded in 2005 by Joey Adler, president and CEO of Diesel Canada, ONEXONE has long had its roots in the world of fashion. The charity’s long-time supporter, Donna Karan, will also be contributing a signature chair to this year’s auction.

“It can benefit both parties in a lot of ways. For the designer, it can be a really great outlet to get their brand out there. And for the charity, it lends credibility to have [designers] believe in these causes,” says Mimran. “It’s a win-win situation when you get these kinds of collaborations.”

The designer chair auction will take place at the IDS12 opening party 7 to 11 p.m. at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Guests who are unable to take home a designer chair can still support the initiative by purchasing a Band of Hope ONEXONE bracelet for $10 during the party. Advance tickets can be purchased online at www.interiordesignshow.com or at the door.