Carla Maria Zampatti , (19 May 1942 – 3 April 2021) was an Italian-born Australian fashion designer and businesswoman, and executive chair of the fashion label Carla Zampatti Limited. Background Born in Lovero, Italy in 1942, Zampatti settled with her family in Fremantle, Western Australia in 1950. The family moved to Bullfinch WA and she attended school there for several years. Career In 1965, Zampatti 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. Her clothes were appreciated and liked from the beginning. One of her early dresses, bought in 1967, was still in use for special occasions by its original purchaser in 2021 — a fact that contributed to ongoing debate about the quality and sustainability of fashion. It was worn again at the designer's funeral. Zampatti opened her first boutique in 1972 in , Sydney. Over the next three years, boutiques were opened in , Double Bay and Elizabeth Street, Sydney, growing the Carla Zampatti Pty Ltd company to create a chain of 30 Carla Zampatti boutiques and concept stores across Australia. With the growth of the label, Zampatti moved into David Jones in 1990 and Myer stores in 1992, although she signed an exclusivity deal with David Jones in 2009. Australian singer of Italian descent, Tina Arena, is known to wear her pieces, as are other Australian icons Princess Mary of Denmark, Dannii Minogue, Delta Goodrem, and Ita Buttrose. In 1973, Zampatti became one of the first Australian designers to introduce swimwear into her collection. Expanding into other areas of fashion, she was commissioned to create the first designer eyewear of Polaroid's range. In 1983, Zampatti launched her first perfume, 'Carla'. It was a success, and she released a second in 1987, 'Bellezza'. In partnership with Ford Australia, Zampatti redesigned 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. Zampatti's daughter, Bianca Spender, spent her childhood in her mother's studio which lead to her interest in studying fashion in Paris. Bianca joined Carla Zampatti Limited with her own capsule collection from 2004. Bianca branched out and launched her own namesake brand in 2017. Zampatti held a number of directorships, including chairman of the SBS Corporation, a director of the Westfield Group, and a