Bianca Spender flips opinion on denim, expands design offerings

The talented designer daughter of the late fashion legend Carla Zampatti always preferred wearing a silk dress to a BBQ rather than denim — but the queen of drape is now a convert.

She’s known as being the queen of the drape and the go-to designer for refined corporate and eveningwear wear.

So when Covid-19 put an abrupt stop to weddings, parties and going into the office, celebrated Australian designer Bianca Spender had to rethink her offering.

With the athleisure wear market saturated, denim was the next best thing when it came to what women were inclined to wear during and post the Covid-19 era.

However there was one slight problem — Spender didn’t wear, or particularly love denim.

“Denim is a fabric I have always admired … but I was equally aware that it wasn't my world or something I was deeply engaged in as a designer, wearer or manufacturer,” Spender told Saturday Confidential.

Bianca Spender and Nobody Denim collaboration. Picture: Supplied

Bianca Spender and Nobody Denim collaboration. Picture: Supplied

“There is this running joke that I never wear denim. I would turn up at something and everyone would be in denim jeans and a T-shirt and I would be in a silk dress.

“I went through the whole 90s without wearing denim. Most denim designs aren’t courageous enough for me. They don’t have enough volume, they don’t have enough sculpture.

Bianca Spender and Nobody Denim collaboration. Source: Supplied

Spender was always the one at the barbecue in the silk dress, she says. Picture: Elise Hassey

“Generally the offering is a pant or a shirt. When I get dressed I want my outfit to say something, but denim is almost about not saying something. People have said for decades they would be fascinated by what I would like in denim.”

So Spender’s new limited edition capsule collaboration with 23-year-old cult denim brand Nobody Denim will likely come as a surprise to those close to her.

“I had to be honest about what I thought about denim when I approached Nobody Denim,”

the talented daughter of late design veteran Carla Zampatti said.

“I remember my first call with John, the head of Nobody Denim that I didn’t wear denim.”

Fast forward one year and Spender is a convert.

“I was so impressed by Nobody Denim, whose collections are designed, produced and finished in Nobody Denim’s Melbourne factory,” Spender said.

“They are such a force in the market and have such an incredible loyal following and I think that in Melbourne, they are in the bible of incredible brands.

“You can see so much of the detailing within the designs through the washes, stitching and finishes. The nature of denim brings a sculptural feel to my traditionally fluid or liberated silhouettes which has been very exciting to work with.”

All pieces in the Bianca Spender X Nobody Denim collection are designed, produced and finished in Nobody Denim’s Melbourne factory. Conscious fabric choices include hemp, considered a “super fibre”.

The collection will be available to purchase through Bianca Spender and Nobody Denim retail outlets on 8th September 2022.