MBFWA P.E NATION RESORT 20

Photo credit: Stefan Gosatti for Getty Images

                              Physical Education by P.E Nation

Olivia Newton-John once famously said:

“Let’s get physical, physical

I want to get physical

Let’s get into physical

Let me hear your body talk, your body talk

Let me hear your body talk.”

And boy did founders Pip Edwards and Claire Tregoning’s sportsluxe label, P.E Nation made our bodies talk! Seemingly muddling the lines between activewear and fashion, their first solo outing, titled “Physical Education,” demonstrated how the simple tracksuit could be worn simply and feature in any street style blog.

Set in a make-shift stadium, the brand’s loyalists loudly sat in the stands, watching the colourful sportswear being paraded in front of them. Gold elements and pastel shades of their signature primary colours; fiery red and cobalt blue, with black, white and fluoro orange hues, gave the collection that distinctive 90’s look and vibe. 

The bold colours within the relaxed shapes gave the collection that youthful, fun exuberance; yet maintaining the label’s modern edge and aesthetics. 

The P.E Nation squad all cheered from the stands as a plethora of oversized hoodies and windcheater jackets, tracksuit pants, repurposed and reconstructed cropped denim jackets with Americana-style badging and their signature colour blocked leggings marched down the catwalk. Belted bags worn cross body, teamed with colour-matching Converse sneakers and mismatched monochromatic Dr. Martens boots completed the retro look.

After the parade seemed to be over, the stadium went dark and a gritty, heavily stylised film with neon filters and negative effects splashed up on the wall in front of the spectators, unveiling their “one more thing” (unsurprising) surprise.

P.E NATION x SPEEDO!

In a rapturous applause and elation from the devoted fans, swimwear has been the only element missing in an otherwise, complete lineup of stylish activewear for P.E Nation. Now collaborating with the iconic swimwear brand, SPEEDO, the models returned back to the stadium, decked out in a new swim collection. Manufactured from SPEEDO’s exclusive Eco fabrication, classic 20’s racer-backs, two-piece and paddle suits rounded out the new lineup.

One by one, each model hopped up on the elevated, red-white-black striped diving platform, lined up to face the spectators, placed their swimming goggles into position, and then waited for the whistle. Without warning, the heavens opened up and a makeshift waterfall rained down over them, road-testing the new lineup.

Commenting on the production of the moody film and spectacular rain finale, 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.”

In what could only be described as a runway presentation in true epic proportions, it is no wonder P.E Nation is one of the most talked about labels with a fervent following. Amalgamating both the physicality and functionality of their product with their iconic aesthetics, even I found my “body talk” for ‘Physical Education.’