Carla Zampatti
Encyclopedia
Carla Maria Zampatti AC
(born 19 May 1942) is an Italian-Australia
n fashion design
er and businesswoman.
Carla Zampatti is Executive Chairman of Carla Zampatti Pty Limited. She is also a Trustee of the Sydney Theatre Company Foundation Trust, and is a Board Member of the Australian Multicultural Foundation.
Born in Lovero
, Italy
, Carla settled with her family in Australia in 1950. In 1965, she produced her first small collection for Zampatti Pty Limited, followed two years later by a national launch, and in 1970, by the establishment of Carla Zampatti Limited, a label that was to become a by-word for beautiful clothes, which combine Australian creativity with Italian style.
Carla opened her first boutique in 1972 in Surry Hills, Sydney Australia. Over the next 3 years the Mosman, Double Bay and Elizabeth Street Sydney boutiques were opened, growing the Carla Zampatti Pty Ltd company. Over the years, she has continually expanded her retail network to create a chain of 30 Carla Zampatti boutiques and concept stores across Australia. Today her clothes are a distinctive part of the modern Australian lifestyle.
In 1973 Carla proved she was ahead of the industry being one of the first Australian designers to introduce swimwear into her collection. Expanding into other areas of fashion, Carla was commissioned to create the first designer eyewear of Polaroid’s range.
Carla’s achievements are not all fashion based as seen in 1983 with the national launch of her perfume ‘Carla’. With the success of her first fragrance Carla released a second in 1987 ‘Bellezza’.
Carla has also redesigned a car. In a unique partnership with Ford Australia, she was asked to redesign a car especially for the women’s market. Her first Laser, produced in 1985, was followed two years later with a collection of Lasers and Meteors that are still remembered as examples of design innovation in the Australian industry.
With the growth of the label Carla moved into David Jones in 1990 and Myer stores soon after in 1992. This increased availability of merchandise fuelled the expansion of the company and reputation.
Carla has been recognised with a number of Australian and international awards for achievement and excellence. She is a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), was a Bulletin/Qantas Businesswoman of the Year, and in 1994 the fashion industry of Australia named her Designer of the Year. In 2004, the Italian government appointed Carla Commendatore (Commander) in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
In January 2005, Carla was honoured by Australia Post, and named a ‘2005 Australia Post Australian Legend’. This Award is announced annually in the lead-up to Australia Day, and the recipients of this Award, are individually featured on a postage stamp. Carla later designed the new Australia Post corporate wear, launched in October 2007.
The Australian Fashion Laureate was awarded to Carla in August 2008. An award polled by members of the industry, an initiative of the New South Wales Government and IMG Fashion. This award recognizes outstanding achievement and is the highest award honoured in the Australian Fashion Industry.
She has also held a number of directorships, including Chairman of the SBS Corporation, a director of the Westfield Group and a Trustee of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Carla Zampatti now divides her time between her business commitments here and overseas, her public engagements and her other Directorships.
She has three children: Alex Schuman, Allegra Spender (General Manager, Carla Zampatti), and Bianca Spender (Designer).
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 19 May 1942) is an Italian-Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n fashion design
Fashion design
Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social latitudes, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers work in a number of ways in designing clothing and accessories....
er and businesswoman.
Carla Zampatti is Executive Chairman of Carla Zampatti Pty Limited. She is also a Trustee of the Sydney Theatre Company Foundation Trust, and is a Board Member of the Australian Multicultural Foundation.
Born in Lovero
Lovero
Lovero is a comune in the Province of Sondrio in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 120 km northeast of Milan and about 30 km east of Sondrio. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 663 and an area of 13.4 km²....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Carla settled with her family in Australia in 1950. In 1965, she produced her first small collection for Zampatti Pty Limited, followed two years later by a national launch, and in 1970, by the establishment of Carla Zampatti Limited, a label that was to become a by-word for beautiful clothes, which combine Australian creativity with Italian style.
Carla opened her first boutique in 1972 in Surry Hills, Sydney Australia. Over the next 3 years the Mosman, Double Bay and Elizabeth Street Sydney boutiques were opened, growing the Carla Zampatti Pty Ltd company. Over the years, she has continually expanded her retail network to create a chain of 30 Carla Zampatti boutiques and concept stores across Australia. Today her clothes are a distinctive part of the modern Australian lifestyle.
In 1973 Carla proved she was ahead of the industry being one of the first Australian designers to introduce swimwear into her collection. Expanding into other areas of fashion, Carla was commissioned to create the first designer eyewear of Polaroid’s range.
Carla’s achievements are not all fashion based as seen in 1983 with the national launch of her perfume ‘Carla’. With the success of her first fragrance Carla released a second in 1987 ‘Bellezza’.
Carla has also redesigned a car. In a unique partnership with Ford Australia, she was asked to redesign a car especially for the women’s market. Her first Laser, produced in 1985, was followed two years later with a collection of Lasers and Meteors that are still remembered as examples of design innovation in the Australian industry.
With the growth of the label Carla moved into David Jones in 1990 and Myer stores soon after in 1992. This increased availability of merchandise fuelled the expansion of the company and reputation.
Carla has been recognised with a number of Australian and international awards for achievement and excellence. She is a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), was a Bulletin/Qantas Businesswoman of the Year, and in 1994 the fashion industry of Australia named her Designer of the Year. In 2004, the Italian government appointed Carla Commendatore (Commander) in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
In January 2005, Carla was honoured by Australia Post, and named a ‘2005 Australia Post Australian Legend’. This Award is announced annually in the lead-up to Australia Day, and the recipients of this Award, are individually featured on a postage stamp. Carla later designed the new Australia Post corporate wear, launched in October 2007.
The Australian Fashion Laureate was awarded to Carla in August 2008. An award polled by members of the industry, an initiative of the New South Wales Government and IMG Fashion. This award recognizes outstanding achievement and is the highest award honoured in the Australian Fashion Industry.
She has also held a number of directorships, including Chairman of the SBS Corporation, a director of the Westfield Group and a Trustee of the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Carla Zampatti now divides her time between her business commitments here and overseas, her public engagements and her other Directorships.
She has three children: Alex Schuman, Allegra Spender (General Manager, Carla Zampatti), and Bianca Spender (Designer).
Honours
- Zampatti was made a Member of the Order of AustraliaOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AM) in the 1987 Australia DayAustralia DayAustralia Day is the official national day of Australia...
honours, for service to the fashion industry as a designer and manufacturer. She was raised to Companion level in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 2009. - She received the Centenary MedalCentenary MedalThe Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
in 2001 for service to Australian society in business leadership. - The Government of Italy made her a Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian RepublicOrder of the Crown of ItalyThe Order of the Crown of Italy was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Vittorio Emanuele II, to commemorate the unification of Italy in 1861...
. - In 2005, she was honoured on a commemorative Australian postage stampAustralian LegendsThe Australian Legends is an annual series of commemorative postage stamps issued by Australia Post since 1997. The stamps commemorate living Australians who have made lifetime contributions to the development of the Commonwealth's national identity and character...
, along with other Australian fashion designers, Prue ActonPrue ActonPrue Acton, OBE is an Australian fashion designer, and is often referred to as Australia's "golden girl" of fashion' during the 60's.-Early life:...
, Jenny BannisterJenny Bannister-Early life:Bannister studied Fashion Design and Production at RMIT's Emily McPherson College, and commenced her career in 1975 as a recycled denim designer.-Career:...
, Collette DinniganCollette DinniganCollette Dinnigan is an Australian based fashion designer. Born in South Africa, Dinnigan moved to New Zealand, then Australia, where she obtained work with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
, Akira IsogawaAkira Isogawais one of Australia's most prominent contemporary fashion designers. Born in Japan, he immigrated to Australia in 1986, studying fashion at East Sydney Technical Collage drawing from inspiration from contemporary Japanese design. He also opened up a store in Woollahra, Sydney, in 1993. By the...
and Joe SabaJoe SabaJoe Saba is an Australian fashion designer and fashion business owner.He started his fashion business in 1965 with the opening a store in 287 Flinders Lane Melbourne called the Joseph Saba Shirt and Sweater Shop. The Saba store was later in Collins Street, Melbourne. In 1969 he established a label...
. - The Australian Fashion Laureate was awarded to Carla in August 2008.