Fashion, arts farewell Aussie philanthropist Peter Weiss

The Australian fashion and arts industries have come together to remember the ‘godfather of Australian fashion’ and renowned philanthropist, Peter Weiss.

Peter Weiss, who died after a long health battle. Picture: Hollie Adams

The Australian fashion and arts industries have come together to remember the “godfather of Australian fashion” and renowned philanthropist Peter Weiss.

After a decade-long battle with obstructive lung disease and, more recently, lung cancer, Weiss died at home on Sydney’s northern beaches, aged 84.

With first wife Adele, Weiss launched their Weiss label when the modern Australian fashion industry was in its infancy in the mid-1970s and it would last for more than two decades.

The couple were regulars on the Sydney social scene, presiding over an empire that would grow to moreb than 40 stores and concessions in David Jones across Australia.

Designer Collette Dinnigan was “heartbroken” to hear the news of his death, and said she would “miss him terribly”.

“Peter was the godfather of my son, Hunter, and he was also the godfather to many in the Australian fashion industry,” Dinnigan told The Australian, adding that he was an “incredible mentor and confidant”.

Vogue Australia Edwina McCann said his death was “not only a huge loss to his family and the fashion industry, but to the creative industries and arts in general”. “He was a visionary who helped steer many careers, generously mentored the next generation, and forged an identity for the Australian fashion industry of which we could all be proud,” she said.

Sydney public relations specialist Adam Worling, who first worked with Weiss in the 80s, remembered him as “a man of firsts in fashion”.

“Peter started the first Australian designer wardrobe for a corporation, with Ansett, and turned an advertising campaign into one of the most successful tourist brands in Weiss Art. What colour was to Ken Done, black and white was to Weiss Art.”

Weiss’s entrepreneurial nature would also see him become the biggest client outside Scotland of Scottish knitwear brand Pringle, with his cheekily branded Weiss Pringle stores across Australia and in David Jones.

While fashion may have made Weiss his fortune, it would soon allow him to indulge his greater passion: the arts.

The former musician, who gave up the cello in his early 20s when he realised he would never be a star soloist, reconnected to music as a patron of the arts when he quit the fashion industry in the late 90s.

The Sydney Symphony ­Orchestra, Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney Opera House and the Australian Chamber Orchestra would all benefit from his patronage, which included the donation of a $1.8m Guarneri cello to the ACO in 2016.

In February, Weiss donated $4m to the University of Sydney to fund research into the prevention and treatment of chronic ­obstructive pulmonary disease.

Weiss is survived by wife Doris and children Ariane and Antony.