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Hordes of people, including celebrities and fashion industry elites, descended on St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney to farewell legendary style icon Carla Zampatti.
Last week it was revealed the fashion designer’s life and legacy would be celebrated in a state funeral after the Berejiklian government confirmed Ms Zampatti’s family had agreed to the proposal.
The 78-year-old died after a week-long hospitalisation. She fell down a set of stairs at the opening of opera La Traviata at Mrs Macquarie’s Point earlier in the month.
It’s believed she was in a coma but never woke up.
The general public were invited to attend the ceremony, along with family, celebrities and fashion industry elites, and a live stream was made available to those who couldn’t make it.
Among those spotted arriving on Thursday morning were television personality Sonia Kruger, former politician Julie Bishop and the Prime Minister’s wife Jenny Morrison.
Principal celebrant, Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher, opened proceedings by noting state funerals are reserved for royalty in Britain, but Ms Zampatti was a reigning monarch in Australia, a “queen of fashion”.
A white pall was then draped over Ms Zampatti’s casket as well as rosary beads and a cross.
Ms Zampatti’s 19-year-old granddaughter, Brigid Schuman, read a passage from the bible.
It was followed by a hymn and Ms Zampatti’s friend Jillian Broadbent with a second reading.
“That a nine-year-old could arrive from Italy with little English and no education could rise to great heights in a new country,” Archbishop Fisher said in a nod to Ms Zampatti’s innovative efforts in the fashion industry.
He explained she had started making her own clothes at the age of 12, and then spent decades exploring her creativity through fashion.
“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.”
Archbishop Fisher said Ms Zampatti’s family stayed by her side during her final week at St Vincent’s Hospital.
“Her fall at the opening night of La Traviata poignantly took place amid 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.”
He added the choirs of angels are “about to get new uniforms”.
RELATED: State funeral announced for style icon Carla Zampatti
“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, as laughs echoed through the cathedral.
Ms Zampatti’s children Alexander Schuman, Bianca Spender and Allegra Spender spoke about their beloved mother
Bianca Spender, who is also a fashion designer, said her mother was 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 said.
“She offered you champagne and croissants at any time of day, with Nutella for the grandchildren, presenting everything on a perfect white cloth.”
Ms Zampatti had nine grandchildren who visited her as recently as the day before the fall.
“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 told the masses how seeing another woman succeed brought her mother joy, before offering a touching anecdote about how she wrote a letter to a woman she had never met.
In it, she congratulated a woman for succeeding with her new business, despite having never met her.
“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.”
Earlier, Ms Berejiklian described Ms Zampatti as a “trailblazer” and a role model for generations of Australians.
Ms Zampatti was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1987 for her lengthy service to the fashion industry as a designer and manufacturer.
She was also made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2009 as a nod to her leadership and management roles in the fashion and retail property sectors, multicultural broadcasting, and as a role model and mentor to women.
In 1980 Ms Zampatti was named Australian Businesswoman of the Year.
Then in 2008 she was handed the Australian Fashion Laureate Award – the highest honour in Australia’s fashion industry.
When news of her tragic death broke, Australian designers, celebrities and politicians reacted with shock and sadness, calling Ms Zampatti an “inspirational Australian” and a “true trailblazer”.
“On behalf of the people of NSW, I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Carla,” Ms Berejiklian said after Ms Zampatti’s death.
Ms Zampatti’s eldest daughter, Bianca Spender, posted a tribute to Instagram, saying: “Today I lost my mother, my inspiration, my mentor, and my friend. I am lost for words and totally heartbroken.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said: “Jen and I are terribly saddened by the passing of Carla Zampatti. We have lost a truly great and inspirational Australian.”
The industry pioneer, born in Italy before settling in Australia with her family in 1950, has enjoyed a career spanning nearly six decades, with big-name celebrities at home and abroad dedicated fans of her eponymous label.
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