Carla Zampatti remembered at state funeral in Sydney
Carla Zampatti #CarlaZampatti
There were moments of deep poignancy along with light-hearted humour during the state funeral of fashion designer Carla Zampatti on Thursday.
“If she were alive today, she would say, ‘This is the best-dressed funeral I have ever attended,’” said Zampatti’s daughter Bianca Spender when addressing the congregation at Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral, flanked by brother Alex Schuman and sister Allegra Spender.
Schuman said that the outpouring of love and support since Zampatti’s death on April 3 had been “overwhelming”.
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The traditional Catholic service was presided over by the Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Reverand Anthony Fisher, while Zampatti’s nine grandchildren all took part in elements of the funeral, including placing the fabric pall over Zampatti’s coffin.
“The late Prince Philip will not get a state funeral, as in Britain these are largely reserved to reigning monarchs,” said Fisher.
“But here in Australia we are more generous and more democratic with such recognition. And it could be said that Carla is indeed a reigning monarch, a Queen of fashion.”
The attendees were indicative of the extraordinary reach that Zampatti held, not only as a huge force in fashion, but reaching into the realms of politics, the arts, media and corporate Australia.
Attendees included Jenny Morrison, representing the Prime Minister Scott Morrison, former prime ministers Malcolm Turnbull, John Howard and Tony Abbott, Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne, and former foreign minister Julie Bishop. Governor of NSW Margaret Beazley and her predecessor, Dame Marie Bashir, also attended.
Dame Quentin Bryce, former governor-general of Australia and Zampatti’s close friend, led the words of remembrance before Zampatti’s three children.
Bryce recalled the traditional expectations for women of their generation, saying, “some of us had other ideas, other ambitions”.
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“We wanted to have it all. To change the world. And we joined the social revolution, proud Australian women, proud feminists.”
Bryce cited Zampatti’s “honesty and candour” and “her railing against chauvinism, against those who begrudged women opportunities and success”.
Fisher noted her determination, defiance, intelligence and grace.
The fashion industry, of course, was well represented, and included both designers including Nicky Zimmermann, Camilla Franks and Camilla Freeman-Topper, as well as Vogue editor-in-chief Edwina McCann and former title holders Kirstie Clements and Nancy Pilcher.
Fisher noted her accolades, including Companion of the Order of Australia, Commander of the Order of the Merit of the Italian Republic, Fashion Laureate and being named the inaugural Australian businesswoman of the year, in 1980.
In addition, he called her “a champion of women, and a multicultural success story. A trailblazer in the Australian and global fashion scene for more than five decades”.
“Carla has been hailed as a great Australian whose passing is mourned by all who knew her and all who wore her.”
Of her migrant story, arriving in the remote Western Australian town aged nine, Fisher added wryly, “Bullfinch was no Milan.”
Many guests chose to wear their favourite Zampatti pieces from their wardrobes, items that had seen them through special occasions or simply their working lives.
Julie Bishop wore a feathered Zampatti dress, and told The Australian that she “loved her dearly”.
“She was an inspiration to generations of Australian women and more broadly her determination to succeed, her resilience, her strength against the odds, while maintaining that grace and elegance was extraordinary.”
Before the funeral began, the cathedral was filled with Zampatti’s own voice, taken from a podcast recorded just weeks before her death.
“I’d like to be remembered as someone who helped women achieve what they all could achieve by giving them a product that they could wear,” she had said.
“I think that my children, living through my career, beside me, makes me very proud… and also helping women do what they want to do and maybe setting an example, saying what I can do you can do, too. I think that is what I would like to be remembered for.”
Zampatti will be remembered for that, and so much more.
Fashion Editor
Sydney
Glynis Traill-Nash is one of Australia’s most highly regarded fashion writers and commentators. She has previously held fashion editor roles at The Sunday Telegraph, The Sun Herald and In Style. Her engaging, i… Read more
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