The Sydney brand, known for its mini party dresses and slinky gowns, changed things up with printed flares and elegant dresses with cutouts in cotton poplin.

Starting nearly an hour behind schedule, P.E Nation showed a collection of ‘90s-inspired active and streetwear, including denim, before specially installed sprinklers activated to debut the brand’s swimwear collaboration with Speedo.

Co-founder Pip Edwards said: "It was really important to play to the physicality of the product and fabrication, and to see swim in a different light. We naturally see swim in a beach style setting and we wanted to present an edgier and more emotive presentation of the category.”

The show also featured a diverse model line-up, including the first examples of size inclusivity for the week, a trend that continued at Tigerlily.

But not everything went to plan when models from the P.E show arrived in hair and make-up for Tigerlily with soaking hair, causing the schedule to run even further behind.

The afternoon schedule continues with swimwear brand Matteau, US-based designer Jonathan Simkhai and Bassike.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week continues until Saturday. The reporter travelled as a guest of IMG.