Australian Fashion Designer Carla Zampatti Dies At 78

Legendary fashion designer Carla Zampatti died at Sydney’s St Vincent Hospital at the age of 78. The Australian style icon attended the opening night of La Traviata last Friday night when she fell on a staircase.

Zampatti passed away on April 3 after being hospitalised a week ago following a staircase accident. She hit her head and was admitted to St Vincent’s Hospital, where, reportedly, she went into a coma and did not recover.

Born in Italy in 1942, Zampatti migrated to Australia in 1950, where she set up her fashion label at the age of 24.

Influential Australians such as actors Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett, former prime minister Julia Gillard, were among people who wore the clothes of Zampatti’s label.

On Saturday, a statement released by her family said: “Carla has long been celebrated for making Australian women feel confident and elegant through her exceptional design, tailoring and understanding of the modern woman.”

An online condolence page has been established to celebrate the designer.

Here’s how people paid tribute to the iconic fashion designer, Carla Zampatti:

She sent Australian women out to work fully armoured in a world often hostile to us. She made us feel strong and elegant. She was wry, beautiful, great company and had an enduring vision. I have spent countless days head to toe in Carla. I will miss her. Bellezza. #carlazampatti pic.twitter.com/crVq2dbYZU

— Virginia Trioli (@LaTrioli) April 3, 2021

Australian icon #CarlaZampatti migrated from Italy in 1950, setting up her own fashion label 20 years later. In anyone’s language Carla was a fashion & business legend - designing clothes for women the 🌎 over, a corporate leader & community contributor. A true trailblazer. Vale pic.twitter.com/kteRaaCl7Q

— Marise Payne (@MarisePayne) April 3, 2021

We lost a truly great Australian today. Carla Zampatti was THE trailblazer for our fashion industry, one of our most successful businesswomen, a mentor for emerging talent, a passionate advocate for the arts and multiculturalism & a devoted working mother. Vale #CarlaZampatti 💔 https://t.co/udSIAmBfli

— Angela Bishop (@AngelaBishop) April 3, 2021

The world will never be the same without Carla Zampatti. Talented, generous and inspiring. A true trailblazer in every respect. Rest In Peace.

— Gladys Berejiklian (@GladysB) April 3, 2021

The personal life of designer Carla Zampatti

In an interview with SBS Italian, Zampatti credited the Italian upbringing for her work and said, "I am still totally influenced by my Italian upbringing".

"I am still influenced from the value of aesthetics that Italians have, how much they value looking good and by the concept of 'la bella figura'," she added.

Carla Zampatti was the mother of three children Alexander Schuman, Bianca Spender and Allegra Spender. The Sydney designer was married to accountant Leo Schuman and confessed that their relationship drove her to “depths of despair”. The fashion icon wrote about her relationship with former husband in her self-titled book: My Life, My Look.

Later, in 1975, she tied the knot with former Australian lawyer, politician and diplomat John Spender.