Carla Zampatti

AC OMRI
Zampatti in 2012
Born(1942-05-19)19 May 1942
Lovero, Lombardy, Italy
Died3 April 2021(2021-04-03) (aged 78)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
NationalityItalian
CitizenshipAustralian
LabelCarla Zampatti Limited
Spouses
Leo Schuman
​
​
(m. 1964; div. 1970)​
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1975; div. 2010)​
    Children3 (including Bianca and Allegra)

    Carla Maria Zampatti AC, OMRI (19 May 1942 – 3 April 2021) was an Italian-born Australian fashion designer and businesswoman, and executive chair of the fashion label Carla Zampatti Limited.

    Background

    Born in Lovero, Italy in 1942,[1] Zampatti settled with her family in Fremantle, Western Australia in 1950.[2][3] The family moved to Bullfinch, and she attended school there for several years.[4]

    Career

    In 1965, Zampatti produced her first small collection for Zampatti Pty Limited, followed two years later by a national launch, and in 1970, by the establishment of Carla Zampatti Limited.[5] Her clothes were appreciated and liked from the beginning. One of her early dresses, bought in 1967, was still in use for special occasions by its original purchaser in 2021 — a fact that contributed to ongoing debate about the quality and sustainability of fashion.[6][7] It was worn again at the designer's funeral.[8]

    Zampatti opened her first boutique in 1972 in Surry Hills, Sydney.[9] Over the next three years, boutiques were opened in Mosman, Double Bay and Elizabeth Street, Sydney, growing the Carla Zampatti Pty Ltd company to create a chain of 30 Carla Zampatti boutiques and concept stores across Australia.[10] With the growth of the label, Zampatti moved into David Jones in 1990 and Myer stores in 1992, although she signed an exclusivity deal with David Jones in 2009.[11] Australian singer of Italian descent, Tina Arena, is known to wear her pieces, as are other Australian icons Princess Mary of Denmark, Dannii Minogue, Delta Goodrem, and Ita Buttrose.[12]

    In 1973, Zampatti became one of the first Australian designers to introduce swimwear into her collection. Expanding into other areas of fashion, she was commissioned to create the first designer eyewear of Polaroid's range.[13] In 1983, Zampatti launched her first perfume, 'Carla'. It was a success, and she released a second in 1987, 'Bellezza'.[14] In partnership with Ford Australia, Zampatti redesigned a car especially for the women's market. Her first Laser, produced in 1985, was followed two years later with a collection of Lasers and Meteors.[15][13]

    Zampatti's daughter, Bianca Spender, spent her childhood in her mother's studio which led to her interest in studying fashion in Paris.[16] Bianca joined Carla Zampatti Limited with her own capsule collection from 2004.[17] Bianca branched out and launched her own namesake brand in 2017.[16]

    Zampatti held a number of directorships, including chairman of the SBS Corporation,[18] a director of the Westfield Group,[19] and a trustee of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.[20] She was a board member of the Australian Multicultural Foundation, the European Australian Business Council, Sydney Dance Company, MCA Foundation, and UTS V-C's Industry Advisory Board.[21] From 1988 until her death in 2021, Zampatti served as a judge of the Ethnic Business Awards, a prestigious national award for migrant and Indigenous entrepreneurs which honours their contribution to the nation.[22]

    In 2015, HarperCollins published Zampatti's autobiography, My Life, My Look.[23][24]

    Honours

    Zampatti was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 1987 Australia Day honours for service to the fashion industry as a designer and manufacturer.[25] She was elevated as a Companion of the Order in the 2009 Queen's Birthday Honours List.[26][27] In 2001 Zampatti was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to Australian society in business leadership.[28] Zampatti was a Bulletin/Qantas Businesswoman of the Year,[9] and in 1994 the fashion industry of Australia named her Designer of the Year.[1]

    In January 2005, Zampatti was honoured by Australia Post and named on an commemorative Australian postage stamp, along with other Australian fashion designers, Prue Acton, Jenny Bannister, Collette Dinnigan, Akira Isogawa, and Joe Saba. The award is announced annually in the lead-up to Australia Day, and its recipients are individually featured on a postage stamp.[29] Zampatti later designed the new Australia Post corporate wear, launched in October 2007.[30]

    In 2004, the Government of Italy appointed her a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.[31]

    The Australian Fashion Laureate Award was given to Zampatti in August 2008.[32] The award is polled by members of the industry, an initiative of the Government of New South Wales and IMG Fashion. It recognises outstanding achievement and is the highest honour in the Australian fashion industry.[33][10]

    In 1999, Zampatti was admitted as a Doctor of Letters honoris causa by the University of Western Sydney.[34] In December 2018, the University of Wollongong also awarded her an honorary doctorate.[35]

    Personal life

    Zampatti was married twice: she married Leo Schuman, her first husband, in 1964. They divorced in 1970.[36] Her second husband was politician John Spender from 1975 until they separated in 2008, and divorced in 2010.[37][38]

    She had three children: Alex Schuman (CEO of Carla Zampatti Pty Ltd), Allegra Spender (Member of the Australian House of Representatives for Wentworth and CEO of Carla Zampatti Pty Ltd from 2008 to 2016), and Bianca Spender (designer).[39]

    Death

    On 26 March 2021, Zampatti attended the opening night of La traviata at Mrs Macquarie's Chair on Sydney Harbour, where she was knocked unconscious after falling on a staircase. She was taken to St Vincent's Hospital where she died from her injuries on 3 April, at the age of 78.[40][41] Zampatti's family accepted the offer of a state funeral from the New South Wales government.[42] The service was held at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney on 15 April 2021, where many attendees wore her designs, and her daughter said “If she was alive, she’d say this is the best-dressed funeral she had ever attended.”[8][43]

    References

    1. 1 2 "HerStory: Carla Maria ZAMPATTI". Women's Museum of Australia. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    2. ↑ "Australian fashion icon Carla Zampatti, 78, dies in Sydney hospital after fall". SBS News. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    3. ↑ Lehmann, Megan (28 March 2015). "Carla Zampatti, first lady of fashion". The Australian. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    4. ↑ Traill-Nash, Glynis. "Obituary – Carla Maria Zampatti". Obituaries Australia. Australian National University. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
    5. ↑ Rocca, Jane (15 October 2015). "Carla Zampatti: Still In Fashion 50 Years On". Woman With Drive. Porsche. Archived from the original on 3 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    6. ↑ Webb, Carolyn (5 April 2021). "The grandmother who still wears her 1967 Carla Zampatti dress". Sydney Morning Herald.
    7. ↑ Fran, Jan (9 April 2021). "Not just an Australian fashion legend, Carla Zampatti is a keeper". Sydney Morning Herald.
    8. 1 2 Singer, Melissa (15 April 2021). "Glamour and grit the alluring design of Carla Zampatti's life". ydney Morning Herald.
    9. 1 2 Gillezeau, Natasha (14 May 2020). "How Carla Zampatti has survived 55 years in fashion". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    10. 1 2 Murray, Elicia (11 August 2008). "Accolade for Carla Zampatti". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    11. ↑ "David Jones gets exclusive rights to Carla Zampatti label". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 November 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    12. ↑ Halliwell, Elle (8 April 2015). "Style queen Carla Zampatti notches up 50 years in fashion — and 100 collections". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    13. 1 2 "Carla Zampatti kicks off the Fashion Week buzz in typical professional style". Cream Magazine. 28 April 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    14. ↑ King, Elizabeth (26 June 1998). "Beauty bottler". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    15. ↑ "Carla Zampatti specials from Ford: Laser and Meteor". Canberra Times. Vol. 61, no. 18, 778. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 3 March 1987. p. 13. Retrieved 5 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
    16. 1 2 "Bianca Spender, Fashion Designer". Beauticate. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
    17. ↑ Spender, Bianca (10 June 2018). "Bianca Spender on fashion, family and the future of her eponymous label". Vogue Australia. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
    18. ↑ "The Zampatti Makeover". New Matilda. 9 December 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    19. ↑ Harley, Robert (14 July 2004). "They're all aboard at Westfield". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    20. ↑ "Clothing ensemble by Carla Zampatti". Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    21. ↑ Who's Who in Australia. ConnectWeb. 2020.
    22. ↑ Lundy, Kate (9 November 2011). "ADJOURNMENT: Multicultural Policy". Senate Hansard. Parliament of Australia.
    23. ↑ "My Life, My Look". HarperCollins. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    24. ↑ Capp, Fiona (7 December 2015). "Short reviews of non-fiction from Australia and overseas". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    25. ↑ "Ms Carla Maria ZAMPATTI (Mrs SPENDER) AM". It's an Honour. Government of Australia. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    26. ↑ "Ms Carla ZAMPATTI-SPENDER AC". It's an Honour. Australian Government. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    27. ↑ "Designer, late surgeon top Queen's Birthday honours". ABC Online. 2009. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
    28. ↑ "Ms Carla ZAMPATTI: Centenary Medal". It's an Honour. Australian Government. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    29. ↑ "The Australia Post Australian Legends Award". Australia Post Collectables. Australia Post. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    30. ↑ "Cheque, stripes and spots in the mail". Ragtrader. 2 November 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    31. ↑ Harvey, Ellie (7 June 2009). "Woman who fashioned a life of success". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    32. ↑ "Fashion designer and 'true trailblazer' Carla Zampatti to be honoured with NSW state funeral". SBS News. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
    33. ↑ "Zampatti takes out top award". Ragtrader. 11 August 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    34. ↑ "Honorary Awards as at December 2012" (PDF). University of Western Sydney. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    35. ↑ Wellings, Paul. "Honorary Doctor of Letters: Carla Zampatti AC". University of Wollongong.
    36. ↑ Europa World Who's Who, Routledge.
    37. ↑ Robinson, Harry (14 September 1980). "From rags to power". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
    38. ↑ Hornery, Andrew (29 April 2010). "Designer puts her best foot forward despite separation". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
    39. ↑ Tattersall, Hannah (8 May 2009). "Three's company". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    40. ↑ Cormack, Lucy (3 April 2021). "Carla Zampatti, 78, dies in hospital one week after fall". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    41. ↑ "Carla Zampatti dies, aged 78". News.com.au. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
    42. ↑ AAP (4 April 2021). "Carla Zampatti to receive state funeral as tributes flow for fashion 'trailblazer'". The Guardian (Australian edition).
    43. ↑ Safe, Georgina (16 April 2021). "Mourning Carla Zampatti: 'She'd say this is the best-dressed funeral she had ever attended'". The Guardian (Australia).
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