Iva Pfeiffer and Czech ice-hockey legend Patrik Eliás joined forces on Czech Heritage Night (February 25) to celebrate their Czech heritage and raise money for UNICEF. During a night characterised by goodwill and generosity, guests gathered in New York’s Bohemian National Hall at the Czech Center to immerse themselves in Czech-inspired culture—and to participate in a fund-raising auction.

Iva proudly donated this stunning one-off organza gown she designed as part of her new collection entitled Belonging, which premiered at the same event. The gown, aptly named Meandering, features segments of intricately-decorated and hand-stitched French lace that evoke the whimsical meandering of nature.

The hand-stitching of the silver-grey and cream French lace was a labour of love, comprising 400 hours of work meticulously undertaken by Iva herself and four of her talented artisans. Made in Melbourne, Australia, the off-white organza dress, shown with a matching silk-satin slip, also features a short circular train, delicate covered buttons on the back, and a soft folded neck. An ideal and utterly unique wedding or special-event gown, Meandering is inspired by Iva’s fascination of 1920s Orientalism, and incorporates contemporary techniques that emphasise the movement and strength of the female body.

Renowned Czech ice-hockey legend and UNICEF good-will ambassador, Patrik Eliás also gave generously, donating one of his jerseys and one of his hockey sticks to the auction. Watch a fascinating interview with Patrik, where he talks about his hockey career and his support of UNICEF.

The auctions of these exceptional items raised $12,000 for UNICEF, and both Patrik and Iva are immensely proud of their contributions to making the world a better place for children.

Many thanks to the Czech Center for their wonderful ongoing support of Iva’s work – and also to the 250 guests who attended what was a truly memorable night.