Collette Dinnigan shows her resort collection in Sydney

Collette Dinnigan flew in to show her 2008 resort collection in the Qantas First Lounge at the Sydney International Airport to the Sydney fashion pack.

Last week’s fashion show marked the first time the Australian designer has shown a collection in Australia in two years.

“It is my most Australian-inspired collection to date,” she said in reference to her Kookaburra and Waratah print bikinis – the former being a Australian native bird, with the later a native flower.

Native birds and flora aside, the swimwear had a distinct nautical feel to it with stripes and polka dots being used, while the resort pieces were short and flowing in pink, white, yellow and metallics.

The Qantas lounge was designed by project architect, Sebastien Segers, while Marc Newson created the concept. According to Vogue.co.uk, the lounge was purpose built to echo the shape of a control tower.

It also features a vast Carrara marble-clad lounge complete with Capellini manufactured furniture, a Payot spa lined in quartzite from Switzerland, a library with leather floor and a vertical garden by botanist brain Patrick Blanc – plus an a la carte restaurant by Aussie star chef Neil Parry and even stereo sound in the showers.

With fashion shows and luxury first class lounge, why would you want to get on a plane for 5+ hours to get out of the country? I suppose the Dinnigan and Akira packs for business and first class passengers would help encourage people.