Carla Zampatti a passionate women’s advocate who defined Australian style

Carla Zampatti was warm, generous and authentic and instinctively knew what Australian women needed in their wardrobes, writes Vogue Editor-in-Chief Edwina McCann.

Carla Zampatti was Australia’s Anna Wintour. Synonymous with fashion, always elegant, fierce and forthcoming with her opinions. She wasn’t just a champion of Australian fashion, she defined it, and helped create it.

Australian women turned to her to help them get dressed for the boardroom, for a black tie event, or their wedding. She knew what Australian women needed in their wardrobes and she delivered it for them consistently, season after season for 56 years. The longevity of her career is an indication of the adoration of her customers. She dressed generations of families for the same event. I first met Carla as a junior fashion editor for Vogue. She asked what I thought of the clothes she had designed hanging on the rack in a room for her approval for the next collection.

Carla Zampatti was a trailblazer for Australian women.

It was back in 1967 that Zampatti first launched nationally, followed three years later by the establishment of Carla Zampatti Ltd. Her first boutique opened in Sydney’s Surry Hills in 1972, followed closely by stores in Mosman, Double Bay and Elizabeth Street in Sydney.

A passionate advocate for women, her clothes empowered women in the 1970s as they took their rightful place in the workforce. The idea that women could choose their own paths, was ever an inspiration in her clothing, telling Vogue: “I believe that women can do anything, they give so much to society and to family.”

Vogue Editor-in- Chief Edwina McCann with Carla Zampatti. Picture: AAP Image/Sarah Rhodes

She was also one of the first Australian designers to expand her range by designing swimwear in 1973, a line of sunglasses for Polaroid and her own perfumes, “Carla” in 1983 and “Bellezza” in 1987.

David Jones first stocked Zampatti’s range in 1990, followed by Myer in 1992. There are now 30 Zampatti boutiques and concept stores in Australia.

In 2005, Zampatti was named an Australia Post Australian Legend and featured on a postage stamp. Two years later Australia Post released their new corporate uniform, which was designed by Zampatti.

Zampatti received the Australian Fashion Industry’s highest award – the Australian Fashion Laureate – in 2008, which recognised her outstanding achievements.

2009 saw Zampatti adding to her 1987 Order of Australia medal when she was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Carla Zampatti in 1983. Picture: Supplied

Carla Zampatti was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia.

A passionate supporter of the arts and creativity, she made sure to pay it forward through her philanthropic efforts and sitting on boards for the Sydney Theatre Company Foundation Trust, the Australian Multicultural Foundation and European Business Council. She also generously supported young design talent through the Carla Zampatti Foundation Design Award which saw fashion students awarded generous financial support to attend a top tier international design school.

Zampatti also had had the rare honour of designing cars – the 1985 Ford Laser, followed by the 1987 Laser and Meteor – aimed at capturing the women’s market. They sold exceedingly well.

Zampatti showing her spring/summer line in 2013. Picture: Gibson Nic

It is perhaps one of the best examples of Zampatti’s enduring appeal. Whether it was her clothing line, lending her name to fragrances, collaborating with Specsavers (as she did from 2017) or indeed, the automotive industry back in the ‘80s, she captured a timelessness, versatility – and above all else – a cool sense of confidence that women wanted to emulate.

But even if Carla Zampatti did exude a certain European sophistication some may have found intimidating (no doubt helped along by the oversized sunglasses she wore on most occasions), she never failed to be authentic, warm and generous, regardless of whether you were the junior of a fashion team (as I was all those years ago), a loyal Carla Zampatti customer or editor-in-chief.

Zampatti at home at Woollahra last year. Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

It’s heartening to know this lives on through her children, son Alex Schuman and daughters Allegra Spender (general manager of Carla Zampatti) and Bianca Spender (also a fashion designer).

Recalling my favourite memories of Carla, I think fondly of one from a few years ago. She had generously invited the media into her Woollahra home to not only celebrate 50 years of her brand, but also the release of her memoir My Life, My Look, published by HarperCollins.

After the official presentation, many of her high-heeled guests teetered to the top of her driveway to await their rides back to the office. Suddenly Zampatti’s famous canary-yellow convertible flew past with the designer behind the wheel and her equally-stylish friend Dame Quentin Bryce in the passenger’s seat. With a wave, the doyenne, it appeared, had done her duty and was now stylishly off to lunch.

Carla Zampatti was a trailblazer and continued to do things her way, until the very end. There will probably never be another designer who will shape and contribute to the Australian fashion industry, as she did. We are all the more richer for it.