Carla Zampatti state funeral as it happened: Iconic Australian fashion designer honoured at service

That is the end of our live coverage of the state funeral for fashion designer Carla Zampatti.

National Fashion Editor Melissa Singer and senior journalist and Private Sydney columnist Andrew Hornery were inside St Mary’s Cathedral on Thursday to witness the service.

They watched the stream of attendees line up early, decked out in their Zampatti best, and were there when her casket was loaded into the waiting hearse.

Thank you for joining us. You can read their wrap of the ceremony here.

Vogue Australia editor-in-chief Edwina McCann says she believes Carla Zampatti would have been “very, very pleased” with her state funeral at Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral on Thursday.

“She was a woman of great style and taste and she has been farewelled, I think, perfectly,” McCann told 2GB after the service.

“Her family and her grandchildren spoke beautifully, the choir sang extraordinarily beautifully. Her casket was led out by the pall-bearers covered in beautiful orchids.”

Vogue Australia editor-in-chief Edwina McCann on Thursday. Credit: Brendon Thorne/Getty

McCann said it was solemn but in many ways celebratory too.

“It did feel very personal while also being a very solemn and grand affair,” she said. “She was clapped down the street on a beautifully sunny Sydney day with her family following her. [It] could not have been done more graciously and in better style.”

McCann said Zampatti “perfected the Australian silhouette” by creating clothes that were beautiful but practical.

“She really wanted women to feel comfortable and confident.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Carla Zampatti was a “true icon and will be sadly missed”.

“Due to commitments here in WA, I was very sorry not to be able to join [wife] Jenny and [Foreign Minister] Marise Payne in Sydney today to honour, celebrate and give thanks for the life and contribution of Carla Zampatti to our nation,” he said on social media.

Zampatti was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1987 for service to the fashion industry as a designer and manufacturer. In the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours, she was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for her service through leadership and management roles in the fashion and retail property sectors, multicultural broadcasting, and as a role model and mentor to women.

Former prime ministers Tony Abbott, John Howard and Malcolm Turnbull attended the service on Thursday with their respective wives Margie Abbott, Janette Howard and Lucy Turnbull.

Former foreign minister Julie Bishop was among the dignitaries, joined by partner David Panton.

Marise Payne and Jenny Morrison arrive at the state funeral for Carla Zampatti at St Mary’s Cathedral. Credit: Lisa Maree Williams/ Getty

Earlier this month, Please Explain podcast host Nathanael Cooper was joined by fashion editor Melissa Singer to look at the impact Carla Zampatti had on Australian fashion.

Sales of Carla Zampatti clothing surged after her death on April 3.

Jumpsuits have been a mainstay of her collections, whether in solid black with a deep v-neck (her personal favourite), or in soft layers of animal-print crepe that would fall just so, regardless of the shape or size of the wearer.

In a jumpsuit and trademark dark sunglasses, she defined power dressing for working women.

The state funeral has ended.

As mourners spill out of the cathedral, College Street has been closed to traffic to allow a police escort for the hearse to leave the city centre to its final resting place.

Across the road, a small crowd of onlookers has gathered in Hyde Park to witness the final farewell to Carla Zampatti. The hearse will depart shortly for a private burial.

As mentioned earlier, a private wake for immediate family and close friends will be held at her home in Woollahra following the service.

We are expecting to hear from some of the high-profile attendees this afternoon as they pay tribute.

Arm-in-arm through tears, Alexander Schuman, Bianca Spender and Allegra Spender have spoken of their mother Carla Zampatti.

“CZ is what we all called the family business, we referred to it as our other sibling, sometimes the favourite child,” Mr Schuman said.

“But she was a demanding boss and a demanding mother and saw that as a good thing because she’d achieved more than she ever dreamed of, and she wanted the same for you.”

Bianca Spender, a fashion designer herself, said her mother was incredibly warm, affectionate and loved a hug.

“She had such a captivating presence. She drew you in with her soft voice to present a clear, concise point of view. Her favourite thing on the weekend was to swim and have her family around her.

“She offered you champagne and croissants at any time of day, with Nutella for the grandchildren, presenting everything on a perfect white cloth.”

She said the two eldest of nine grandchildren spent time living with Zampatti while others had stayed with her as recently as the Friday before her fall on March 27.

Carla Zampatti arriving at the premiere of La Traviata on March 27, 2021. Credit: Don Arnold

“She was alive to beauty in any form. Dance, visual arts, fashion, architecture. The creativity of others genuinely inspired and uplifted her,” Ms Spender said.

“If she were alive today ... I’m sure she would say this is the best-dressed funeral she has ever attended.”

Allegra Spender, wearing a black outfit with statement ostrich feathers around the neckline, said seeing another woman succeed brought her mother joy.

“Thank you to so many of you for being here today,” she said, noting they have heard stories lately of the way their mother “gave and meant so much to others” they hadn’t known about before.

“We will miss her warm presence, her perspective, her sense of fun, her love and care of us and the joy she took from the world,” she said.

“We are very proud of you mum. We are committed to continuing your legacy of inspiring, empowering and supporting women.”

Zampatti’s three children have embraced each other as former Governor-General Dame Quentin Bryce spoke of their admired, respected and loved mother.

Ms Bryce said she remembers her first ‘Carla’.

“It was purple with tiny red buttons, there have been very many since,” she said.

She said they first met in 1978 and was asked to launch Zampatti’s biography in 2015.

Dame Quentin Bryce and Carla Zampatti at the launch of My Life, My Look in Sydney in 2015. Credit: Janie Barrett

“We would share an enduring friendship that has enriched my life in myriad ways as Carla did for so many,” Ms Bryce said, describing her work as “magic”.

“Farewell dear lovely friend.”

Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher has spoken of Zampatti’s final week at St Vincent’s Hospital, adding he suspects the choirs of angels “are about to get new uniforms”.

“Her fall at the opening night of La Traviata poignantly took place amidst the high art and beauty she had long loved and promoted,” he said.

“It also took place as the world turned its annual gaze to a young man’s death. Like the faithful few gathered around the cross, Carla’s family kept watch by her hospital bed.

“She died on Holy Saturday, as Christ was harrowing hell only hours before the proclamation that He had risen from the dead.

“She moved then, not into the grim limbo of ancient nightmares but to the bright stage lighting of eternal life. Meeting her risen Lord face to face.”

He said the readings at the state funeral resonated with the story of Italian-born Zampatti.

“The breadth and inclusiveness of salvation speaks to a great theme of Carla’s life,” he said.

“That a nine-year-old girl could arrive from Italy with no English and limited education and rise to great heights in this country, joining millions of other newcomers in enriching our shores while enjoying its opportunities.”

Carla Zampatti at home in the 70s with her young son Alex.Credit:

The archbishop said she was a “brave spirited woman”, leaving school at 14 to go to work and separating from her first husband Leo Schuman in 1969 while pregnant with their son, Alexander.

“The single mother courageously built her own fashion house from scratch,” he said.

“Carla’s determination, even defiance, in a world where women were presumed to be the weaker sex ... once again echoes the Easter story.

“It was the women who first saw the empty tomb and the risen Lord. It was the women who first announced Christ risen.”

Archbishop Fisher said he was always struck by Zampatti’s intelligence, charm and grace each time he met her at the Sydney Catholic Business Network.

“None of us knows what Carla said to her creator upon her return to him. Though I suspect the choirs of angels are about to get new uniforms,” he said, to which laughs rang out in the cathedral.

He said the 78-year-old died “only after wowing us one last time” with an elegant appearance at the opera.

“It was fitting that it was opera on the harbour. Popular and accessible,” he said. “For she was not all haute couture but for beauty: for women in every walk of life.”

Brigid Schuman, one of Zampatti’s granddaughters, delivered the first reading, Acts 10:34-43.

It was followed by the hymn, The Lord Is My Shepherd.

Zampatti’s friend Jillian Broadbent AC followed with the second reading, 2 Corinthians 5:1,6-10.

Deacon Mervyn Francis read the Gospel according to John 12:23-26.

Principal celebrant, Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher, has opened the state funeral recognising Carla Zampatti as a trailblazer of Australian fashion for more than five decades.

“Carla has been hailed as a great Australian whose passing is mourned by all who knew her. A champion of women and a multicultural success story,” he said.

“The late Prince Philip [Duke of Edinburgh] will not get a state funeral. As in Britain, these are largely reserved to reigning monarchs.

“Here in Australia ... it could be said that Carla Zampatti was indeed a reigning monarch, the queen of fashion.”

He sprinkled her coffin with holy water.

Two of Zampatti’s grandsons, Dominic and Florian Spender McGuiness, placed the white pall over the coffin.

Arietta, Octavia and Rafferty Spender-Capps placed the Christian symbols, including rosary beads, atop their grandmother’s casket.

Carla Zampatti, a mother and nonna, is survived by three children and nine grandchildren. Credit: Getty