Despite an American model being behind the Katama collection, the show, held on the sun-drenched deck of Andrew Boy Charlton Pool on Tuesday was postcard perfect for visiting buyers and spoilt locals.

The range by former model-turned-designer Garrett Neff was the perfect fusion of Bondi Beach and togs usually seen at The Kennedy Compound in Cape Cod. Tailored swimwear in sophisticated hues of salmon and slate and knitted pullovers in stripes of emerald and navy were stand outs next to the glistening water.

Neff, who has fronted campaigns for Salvatore Ferragamo and Carolina Herrera, has previously shown his wares in New York and at a pop-up shop in Miami. His decision to show in Sydney was a sensible one as buyers from Net-A-Porter, Selfridges and local department stores are all scouting for swimwear this week.

Following previous Fashion Week encounters, Matches Fashion will soon be launching exclusive capsule collections with three Australian luxury swimwear labels, Lisa Marie Fernandez, Marysia Swim and Solid and Striped, studio buyer Chelsea Power told Fairfax Media.

Outcomes like this were one of the main reasons the Fashion Week Australia schedule was restructured last year from spring-summer collections to showcase Resort wear, clothes that will land in stores from September and sell through to the end of the southern hemisphere summer.

Emerging label We Are Kindred, renowned for floral prints and floaty dresses, will premiere swimwear at its show on Wednesday.

Another genre of fashion Australians do well is activewear.

The inaugural group athleisure show starring L'urv, Nimble Activewear, Seafolly, Tone, HUNTRLND and Tully Lou was packed to the rafters with #fitspo types and fashion buyers keen to cash in on the fact leggings are now considered pants in many parts of the world.

Tights with strategically placed perforations, sports bra with splicing and a deconstructed parachute tracksuit in a neapolitan ice cream pantone were stand out looks, as were gold and pink bomber jackets – a style of coat Myer plans to sell 120,000 of in the coming months.

Designers Vera Yan and Katia Santilli, who founded Nimble Activewear three years ago and operate out of Bondi, said taking part in Fashion Week Australia was one of the label's biggest investments.

"To be involved in Fashion Week was a big investment in terms of time, money and resources but when weighing up the cost and experience it looks, at this early stage, to be worth it," Yan said.

The Holy Grail for any Fashion Week participant is getting face time with interested buyers, something Nimble has achieved.

"We have a meeting with Selfridges this week. That's the reason why we're involved. We feel we're already settled in the Australian market, now we want to expand abroad," Santilli said.