Since Carla Zampatti’s death in April 2021,there have been many public moments to reflect on the designer’s impact.The state funeral at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney andexhibitionZampattiPowerhouse, at the Powerhouse Museum until June,honoured her strong connection with Australian women.
“This is an opportunity to show what the next chapter looks like,” says Ungar,who sharpened her pinking shears in roles at Cue and Saba before working most recently as an interior designer.
Ungar never met Zampatti,but after 18 months as creative director now speaks her design language fluently but with a different accent.
Animal print will be missing from the runway constructed in the basement of the label’s historic CBD headquarters,but signature splashes of power red will appear beside a bold new logo and a print designed by artist Lindy Lee as part of the autumn 2023 range.
“There’s been a lot of time spent in the archive trying to understand the inspiration,the thought process and the way Carla approached collections. The brand has a strong handwriting and consistency but I’m pushing that.”
Ungar’s journey to the runway has been overseen by Carla Zampatti’s son and the label’s chief executive Alex Schuman. After a public period of mourning the veils have been lifted to reveal smokey eyes.