Aussie fashion icon Zampatti dead at 78

Ms Zampatti died at Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital on Saturday, a week after she fell at an at opera premiere.

She was knocked unconscious after falling down on the bottom two steps of a staircase at Mrs Macquarie's Point on the opening night of La Traviata.

Born in Italy in 1942, Ms Zampatti migrated to Australia in 1950 at the age of nine, setting up her fashion famous label at only 24.

Her designs have been worn by some of Australia's most influential women, including Princess Mary of Denmark, Australia's first female prime minister Julia Gillard, Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman and NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian.

In a statement, her family said she was Australia's most successful and enduring fashion designer.

"Carla has long been celebrated for making Australian women feel confident and elegant through her exceptional design, tailoring and understanding of the modern woman," the statement read.

"A champion of Australian women and a multicultural success story, she continued to thrive as a businesswoman through enormous radical and social change, designing clothes for women fighting for liberation through the women's rights movement in the 1960s to empowering women today in leadership, the workplace, in their home and at major life events."

In an interview with Nine Newspapers in May, Ms Zampatti spoke about her struggle to start a business as a single mother in the 60s and 70s, when women were "in a different place".

"They were not working, certainly not leading mining or banking or building companies," she said.

"They were all hoping to get a job but were being discouraged by society or their families and pressured to stay home.

"I felt a bit of an outsider, which I have always felt in my life, which is not such a bad thing. Being an outsider makes you try harder".

She may have felt like an outsider, but Ms Zampatti became an integral part of Australia's fashion community.

She was named Australian Designer of the Year in 1994, awarded the Australian Fashion Laureate in 2008 and a year later was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia, Australia's highest civilian honour.

Daughter Bianca, who followed in her mother's footsteps as a designer, posted an emotional tribute to her "inspiration" on Instagram.

"Today I lost my mother, my inspiration, my mentor and my friend. I am lost for words and totally heartbroken.

"She leaves an undeniable legacy behind, and will remain a constant in the hearts of her loving family, friends and women all over Australia and the world who've enjoyed her designs throughout the years."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison also paid tribute, saying: "Jen and I are terribly saddened by the passing of Carla Zampatti. We have lost a truly great and inspirational Australian.

"Carla was an icon to the fashion industry, a pioneer as an entrepreneur and a champion of multicultural Australia. It was our great honour to have known her.

"She was a very kind, strong, elegant and sincere woman. She will be sadly missed by family, friends and all who she inspired alike. Her contribution to our nation will be timeless, just like her designs. We extend our deepest sympathies to her family."

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Ms Zampatti was a "true trailblazer in every respect".

"The world will never be the same without Carla Zampatti."

ABC Chair and former fashion editor Ita Buttrose lauded Ms Zampatti's service to the arts, including as chairwoman of SBS.

"It is a great loss to Australian women, Australian fashion, and Australian business and the community in general because she was quite a unique woman," she told ABC TV.

Ms Buttrose called on the venue at Mrs Macquarie's Point to improve safety.

"The stairs are very dangerous at the opera. Install some rails because otherwise other people might fall as well," she said.

Ms Zampatti is survived by her three children Alexander Schuman, Bianca Spender and Allegra Spender, and was the "proud Nonna" of nine grandchildren.

Australian Associated Press