PE Nation designer Pip Edwards visits cafe with friends after laying off staff

She had to lay off six employees last week because her activewear brand PE Nation is facing financial challenges.

But Pip Edwards, 43, looked anything but downtrodden on Saturday as she visited a cafe in Bondi with friends.

Dressed in head-to-toe PE Nation attire, Pip put aside her busy schedule as she spent time catching up with her friends over drinks at the outdoor venue.

The blonde seemed to be in a good mood as she shared a joke with her friends while relaxing on one of the cafe’s stools.

Pip wore minimal make-up and donned Balenciaga sunglasses.

Later, the mother of a child was seen strolling along the sidewalk with her friends, still laughing and joking together.

The sighting comes on the heels of the unfortunate news of PE Nation downsizing due to “challenging market conditions.”

“In response to the challenging economic environment, PE Nation’s board has taken steps to streamline and restructure the business,” Edwards said in an official press release to The Daily Telegraph.

Dressed in head-to-toe PE Nation attire, Pip put aside her busy schedule as she spent time catching up with her friends over drinks at the outdoor venue

Pip seemed to be in a good mood as she gestured with her hands as she relaxed on one of the stools in the cafe

Pip wore minimal make-up and donned Balenciaga sunglasses

“Unfortunately, this has resulted in the difficult decision to lay off six employees.”

Pip added: “These measures are in line with the overall restructuring efforts required to secure the company’s continued growth and success.”

The Sydney socialite launched her activewear label PE Nation in 2016 with her friend and business partner Claire, turning it into an international brand sold by 600 individual retailers in 95 countries.

At one point, Pip gestured animatedly as she tried to explain something to her friend

Earlier this year, Pip had to deny rumors of an argument with Claire, whose office had been vacated after a months-long absence and turned into a “creative space.”

The pair took a business trip to the UK together in November 2022, where they promoted their athleisure company, snapped selfies in London and had lunch with former Foreign Secretary Julie Bishop, among others.

But Daily Mail Australia revealed that rumors had been circulating that the deep friendship at the company’s core may have crumbled during their luxury journey.

A source with knowledge of the company’s internal dealings claimed, “Pip and Claire had a fight.”

The sighting comes on the heels of the unfortunate news of PE Nation downsizing due to ‘challenging market conditions’

“In response to the challenging economic environment, PE Nation’s board has taken steps to streamline and restructure the business,” Edwards told The Daily Telegraph.

The source said Tregoning took a month off in December, extended her break for another month in January, and then opted for a further three months leave.

Her office at the company’s Sydney headquarters has now been vacated and set up as a “creative space.”

A spokeswoman for PE Nation denied the pair are arguing, insisting they remain “committed and collaborative business partners.”

“Unfortunately, this has resulted in the difficult decision to lay off six employees,” the statement read

Pip added: ‘These measures are in line with the overall restructuring efforts, which are necessary to secure the company’s continued growth and success’

“Claire is taking some well-deserved time off and will continue to be an important part of PE Nation,” the spokeswoman said. “(She) is taking a well-earned sabbatical for a few months.”

Tregoning repeated the message when contacted for comment, adding: “The company and Pip are both very supportive of my sabbatical and I am grateful to have this time off with my family.”

She did not respond to questions about the evacuation of her headquarters office, but the PE Nation spokeswoman admitted that it has been repurposed for the duration of her absence.

“While Claire is out of the office, we use her office space for other purposes, including a meeting and creative space,” they said.

The Sydney socialite launched her activewear label PE Nation in 2016 with her friend and business partner Claire, turning it into an international brand sold by 600 individual retailers in 95 countries.