He was alongside fellow Australian labels Zimmerman and Nicola Finetti in Red Hot 3, staged by Australian-focused London store Antipodium. On the runway was Australian model Ayesha Makim, the niece of the Duchess of York.
In April, Cooper was forced to pull out of Mercedes Australian Fashion Week when his business went into voluntary administration with debts of $3million.
After paying creditors 12c in the dollar, he immediately began planning an assault on the international market.
The small scale of the event, at an off-schedule venue across the road from the official Fashion Week marquees, echoed the newfound restraint of Cooper's capsule collection of sophisticated evening dresses in luxe fabrics.
"I want the Wayne Cooper collection to step up a level with the customer," Cooper said from his studio in Sydney, where he stayed to keep costs down.
Putting her own spin on Cooper's collection, the show's stylist, Namalee Bolle, saw it as "pure bitch glamour". She named as her favourite a strapless black silk organza mermaid gown that "makes you wiggle".
Playing the glamour celebrity, Makim was also making her debut on a London runway, although she modelled for the British launch of Bonds underwear in the city last year. She has previously strutted the catwalk for Cooper in Australia.
In London to establish her career, Makim said she did the show to support Australian designers.
Her favourite outfit was a blue draped Nicola Finetti dress she wore and she had earmarked pieces from Cooper's collection.
"I'm going back to Australia in December so I might have to get a Christmas present for Mum," she said.
Zimmermann showed a collection of predominantly swimwear mixed with splashings of dresses in which to perfect poolside glamour.
The design team of sisters Nicky and Simone Zimmermann are best known for swimwear in their export markets, which include the US and Singapore.
London Fashion Week, held twice a year, runs until Thursday, with 46 catwalk shows.
