Gran Canaria, the Hub for Swimwear Fashion Exchange Between America and Europe
2024-10-03
"Today, we strengthen our alliance with this important international organization, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), a globally significant institution, with the aim of making Gran Canaria the European island for exchange between swimwear fashion from our continent and America," reflected Minerva Alonso, Councillor for Economic Development of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, following the meeting held this Thursday at Gran Canaria Swim Week 2024 with representatives of the CFDA, a globally recognized leader in the U.S. fashion industry. "This agreement includes the participation of two brands and the attendance of U.S. journalists at GCSW. The common goals involve various visibility actions for the island and GCSW24 in the U.S. market, as well as the inclusion of our runway in the international calendar," she added.
For her part, Elizabeth Ritger, Director of Development at CFDA, explained that "thanks to this agreement, we can give our designers more exposure to reach new markets worldwide, and in this wonderful setting, they can boost their competitiveness. We also believe that Gran Canaria is a more than reliable partner."
This edition of Gran Canaria Swim Week kicked off on Wednesday with an outdoor show at Pasito Blanco and will continue through Saturday at Expomeloneras. CFDA member designers Alejandra Alonso Rojas and Cynthia Rowley, as well as the well-known brand Guess, will be showcasing their collections on the Gran Canaria runway. Additionally, journalists from two prestigious U.S. media outlets, Fashionista and Harper's Bazaar, have traveled to the island to cover the event and promote it in the American market.
The relationship between Gran Canaria Moda Cálida, a textile sector program created and promoted by the Cabildo, and the American organization began at the first European Fashion Alliance Summit held on the island in 2022, which aimed to promote a thriving, sustainable, and inclusive fashion industry ecosystem. Following this initial meeting, CFDA representatives visited the runway in 2023 to understand its operation, its international projection, and, of course, the island's attributes. This edition marks the materialization of a joint effort to promote swimwear fashion from both regions and explore new collaboration opportunities.
This mutual promotion agreement is part of the internationalization plan of the island's government developed in coordination with the Gran Canaria Chamber of Commerce. The Council of Fashion Designers of America includes around 420 fashion designers from the U.S. industry, organizes the official New York Fashion Week schedule, and has become the leading strategist and advocate of the American fashion industry. The CFDA has privileged access to a wide range of emerging and established designers and maintains an extensive network of industry contacts and relationships internationally, which now Gran Canaria can benefit from. Through its previous events and collaborations, it has established ties with renowned designers, influencers, and prestigious fashion editors. This broad network is essential for increasing the visibility and appeal of Gran Canaria Swim Week.
Gran Canaria Moda Cálida
Gran Canaria Moda Cálida is a textile fashion sector program on the island created by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Crafts of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria. Fashion is a growing sector with potential for industrial expansion for this institution, and Gran Canaria represents the setting where designers and companies support their projects.
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