Gran Canaria Swim Week Returns as Europe’s Leading Swimwear Runway with a Strong Presence of European and American Brands
2024-09-26
The Cabildo de Gran Canaria today unveiled the latest updates for the upcoming edition of Gran Canaria Swim Week, which kicks off on October 2 with an outdoor runway show at Pasito Blanco Marina, returning to an exterior venue after sixteen years. The event will continue for three more days, until October 5, at Expomeloneras in Maspalomas.
The key highlights of GCSW 2024, Europe’s leading swimwear platform and an international benchmark in swimwear fashion, were presented by Antonio Morales, President of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, and Minerva Alonso, Councillor for Economic Development, alongside Modesto Lomba, President of ACME.
As emphasized during the presentation, Gran Canaria Swim Week 2024 renews its commitment to new talent and emerging brands, along with established national and international labels. The runway continues to blend Gran Canaria’s iconic identity with cutting-edge swimwear trends. It offers a unique showcase for collections that meet criteria of sustainability, quality, and trend-driven design.
This edition will feature 40 designers and brands, of which 23 are from the Canary Islands – 14 from Gran Canaria, 7 from La Palma, one from Lanzarote, and one from Tenerife. Eight will come from mainland Spain, while 9 international brands, including American and European labels, will also present their collections. Among the designers confirmed for this edition are renowned names such as Aurelia Gil, Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada, and Dolores Cortés. In addition, ten emerging talents will also be featured. For the first time, American brands Guess, Alejandra Alonso Rojas, and Cynthia Rowley will debut on the runway.
For yet another year, the public will be able to enjoy the shows, which will be broadcast live on a large screen located at the GCSW terrace in Expomeloneras. This space will also feature a gastronomy area and chill-out zone, offering visitors a chance to follow the event and its parallel activities up close.
Statements
During the event, Antonio Morales, President of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, remarked that “the international projection of Gran Canaria Swim Week has been extraordinary across Europe, the U.S., and on the main fashion runways of the European continent. This provides exceptional visibility for Gran Canaria’s creators and the Gran Canaria Moda Cálida brand. It translates into job creation, enhanced training, and the emergence of new sectors tied to fashion and the textile industry.” He also noted, “Gran Canaria Swim Week represents part of the island’s identity. This year’s slogan, SOMOS GRAN CANARIA, reflects who we are, our landscape, and our commitment to the territory.”
Minerva Alonso, Councillor for Economic Development of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, highlighted that “the organization of Gran Canaria Swim Week has been a team effort, generating synergies with designers, participating companies in the Gran Canaria Moda Cálida program, and modeling agencies. We are grateful for the support of the Association of Spanish Fashion Designers (ACME) and the internationalization team at the Chamber of Commerce.”
Alonso continued to emphasize key elements of the new edition: “The standout features of this year are, on one hand, the collections from our local creators, which differentiate and distinguish us. On the other hand, we are becoming an international platform that, for the first time, welcomes U.S. brands thanks to an agreement with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). We are also strengthening alliances with other European countries. The agreement between the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and CFDA secures our runway’s place in the international fashion calendar alongside Milan, New York, and Paris.”
Modesto Lomba, President of ACME, added: “We must celebrate what we aspired to become and what we are now. We have succeeded in becoming the international reference for swimwear fashion, as evidenced by this edition, which includes a significant representation of U.S. brands. We achieved all this while remaining true to the DNA of Gran Canaria Swim Week.”
Four Days of Runway Shows
On Wednesday, October 2, the outdoor runway at Pasito Blanco will host collections from Victoria Cimadevilla (Spain), Vän (Spain), Alexandra Miró (UK), Agatha Ruiz de la Prada (Spain), and Palmas (Gran Canaria, Spain). On Thursday, October 3, the runway will continue at Expomeloneras with Isla Bonita Moda (La Palma, Spain), Macaronesia (Lanzarote, Spain), Arena Negra (Tenerife, Spain), Dolores Cortés (Spain), Pomeline (La Palma, Spain), Banana Moon (Monaco), Cala 1789 (France), Maldito Sweet (Gran Canaria, Spain), and Alejandra Alonso Rojas (USA). The third day, Friday, October 4, will feature collections from Econaked (Gran Canaria, Spain), Monnur (Spain), Mare Far Niente (Gran Canaria, Spain), Gisela (Spain), Starlite (Spain), Miss Bikini (Italy), Cynthia Rowley (USA), Elena Morales (Gran Canaria, Spain), and Guess (USA). Finally, on Saturday, October 5, the final day will begin with emerging talents Daria Bae, MG&R Design, Patricia Caro, Sirago, Mommy Loves, Volcano Blood, and Chacho Svnrs (all from Gran Canaria, Spain). In the afternoon, the runway will feature Melissa Odabash (UK), Diazar (La Palma, Spain), Como Un Pez en el Agua (Spain), Aurelia Gil (Gran Canaria, Spain), Kamilla Belmont (Sweden), and Carlos Sanjuan (Gran Canaria, Spain).
Stella Maxwell, International Ambassador for Gran Canaria Swim Week 2024
Stella Maxwell, a renowned Belgian model in today’s international fashion scene, has been chosen as the ambassador for GCSW 2024. She has walked for Chanel, Balmain, Versace, Fendi, Marc Jacobs, and Tommy Hilfiger. In 2015 and 2019, she was named Model of the Year at the LA Fashion Awards. Since 2015, Maxwell has been one of Victoria's Secret Angels. She has appeared on the covers of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Elle internationally. With her credibility and influence in the fashion industry, Maxwell will help project the image of GCSW to a global audience interested in fashion.
Valentina Ferrer, a Key Figure in GCSW 2024’s Model Lineup
Valentina Ferrer, an Argentine model and successful entrepreneur in the wellness and diet industry, will be part of this year’s GCSW. Ferrer has walked for brands like Ralph Lauren, Vetements, and Boss, and has graced the covers of international editions of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and InStyle, among others.
Collaboration Agreement with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)
The Cabildo de Gran Canaria and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) have signed a collaboration agreement to position GCSW as the world’s only exclusive swimwear platform. This agreement also secures the inclusion of Gran Canaria’s runway in the international fashion week calendar alongside Milan, New York, and Paris. Thanks to this partnership, U.S. designers will participate in GCSW for the first time. This agreement is part of the island’s internationalization plan developed in coordination with the Chamber of Commerce of Gran Canaria.
GCSW 2024 Influencers
In addition to models, influencers and key opinion leaders will attend the runway and share their Gran Canaria Swim Week experiences with their digital communities. Among them will be TV host and fashion expert Josie, designer and influencer Rocío Osorno, content creator Chincha Rabiña, and Canary Islands influencers Yaiza Mencía, Gema Betancort, Minerva Hers, and Marta Ibrahim. Altogether, these influencers and ambassadors boast a combined digital community of 12.7 million followers, amplifying the event’s reach on social media.
An International and Diverse Model Casting with 40% Canary Islands Models
In addition to international ambassadors Stella Maxwell and Valentina Ferrer, the GCSW runway will feature top names from the national and international modeling scenes such as Lorena Durán, Desiré Cordero, and Grace Quaye. The diverse, cosmopolitan, and multiracial casting includes models from the Canary Islands, mainland Spain, and abroad. This specialized swimwear casting consists of 46 models in total: 35 female models, 13 of whom are from the Canary Islands, and 11 male models, 7 of whom are from the Canary Islands. Ablaye Sow, Ali Embaye, and Aridane Da Silva, among others, will also take part in the lineup.
GCSW 2024 Awards
Gran Canaria Swim Week by Moda Cálida reinforces its commitment to swimwear fashion by presenting three awards recognizing outstanding designers: Best Collection, Best Sustainable Collection, and Best Emerging Collection.
TVE and ¡Hola! TV to Broadcast the Event to a Global Audience
TVE returns as the event’s official broadcaster. Cerca de Ti, a program hosted by Roberto Herrera, will broadcast live from Expomeloneras, covering the runway shows. Additionally, TVE will broadcast the event both nationally and in regional segments. ¡HOLA! TV will set up a studio in the social area of Expomeloneras to broadcast the shows to its entire audience and connect live with its official studio in Miami. Journalist Laura Beracasa will lead the special on-site programming for ¡HOLA! TV, which becomes the official international broadcaster for GCSW.
Commitment to Digitalization
As in previous editions, the runway shows will be broadcast live via the official website, which attracts visitors from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and other countries. Of course, all the details will also be shared through the official social media channels of GCSW — Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok, and LinkedIn — using the hashtags #GranCanariaSwimWeek2024 and #GranCanariaSwimWeekbyMC.
Sponsors and Partners
The event is supported by fifteen sponsor brands, all of whom have demonstrated their unconditional support for the fashion industry by participating in this edition. These brands include Expomeloneras, Pasito Blanco, RTVE, Grupo Rafael Alonso: Omoda / Jaecoo, Oribe, Rowenta, Mahou 5 Estrellas, Solán de Cabras, Fund Grube, Perchel Beach Club, Helamore, The Mint Company, Los Quesos de Anabel, Munchitos, and DJ José Zamorano.
Gran Canaria Moda Cálida
Gran Canaria Moda Cálida is a fashion program created by the Department of Industry, Commerce, and Crafts of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria. For the institution, fashion is a growing sector with industrial expansion potential, and Gran Canaria serves as the setting where designers and companies develop their projects.
Virtual press room:
www.grancanariaswimweek.com
Official event hashtags;
#GranCanariaSwimWeek2024
#GranCanariaSwimWeekbyMC
Official event social media:
Instagram: @grancanariaswimweekbymc
TikTok: @grancanariaswimweekbymc
X: @GCSwimWeek
Facebook: @GranCanariaSwimWeekbyMC
LinkedIn: @Gran Canaria Swim Week by Moda Calida
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