The Gran Canaria Swimweek concludes with flair.

23 October 2024

From October 2 to 5, the 28th edition of the Spanish runway, promoted by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria and entirely dedicated to swimwear fashion, presented four days of full-on fashion shows.

Photo above: Aurelia Gil

As part of an institutional action program for fashion textiles, created with the mission of promoting the island's creative heritage by enhancing local talents and new emerging brands, the Canary Islands Fashion Week has developed over the years and established itself as a European showcase for beachwear fashion , highlighting its international character through the growing involvement of key brands in the sector from Spain and abroad.

The recently concluded 2024 edition, which this year spanned 4 days (compared to 3 in the previous edition), marks a new step in this direction, with a schedule of fashion shows and events featuring 41 brands (around ten more than in 2023) including designers and fashion brands from the Canary Islands and the Iberian Peninsula , as well as from the United Kingdom and various European countries, and for the first time this year, from the United States, thanks to the collaboration with ICEX and the agreement with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA).

Photo below: Banana Moon

A RUNWAY THAT'S INCREASINGLY INTERNATIONAL

GCSW 2024, THE BRANDS ON STAGE

Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada (Spain), Alexandra Miró (United Kingdom), Alejandra Alonso Rojas (United States), Arena Negra (Tenerife, Spain), Aurelia Gil (Gran Canaria, Spain), Banana Moon (Monaco), Cala 1789 (France), Carlos Sanjuan (Gran Canaria, Spain), Chacho Svnrs (Gran Canaria, Spain), Como un Pez en el Agua (Spain), Cynthia Rowley (United States), Daria Bae (Spain), Diazar (La Palma, Spain), Dolores Cortés (Spain), Econaked (Gran Canaria, Spain), Elena Morales (Gran Canaria, Spain), Gisela (Spain), Guess (United States), Isla Bonita Moda (committee including brands Rayco Plata, Julia Brito, Shamelu, Sara Luis Joyas, and Ban; La Palma, Spain), Kamilla Belmont (Sweden), Macaronesia (Lanzarote, Spain), Maldito Sweet (Gran Canaria, Spain), Mare Far Niente (Gran Canaria, Spain), Melissa Odabash (United Kingdom), Miss Bikini (Italy), Mommy Loves (Spain), Monnur (Spain), MR&G Design (Gran Canaria, Spain), Palmas (Gran Canaria, Spain), Patricia Caro (Gran Canaria, Spain), Pomeline (La Palma, Spain), Sirago (Gran Canaria, Spain), Starlite (Spain), Vän (Spain), Victoria Cimadevilla (Spain), Volcano Blood (Gran Canaria, Spain).

Among the established names and key fashion brands in the industry, alongside Spanish veterans Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada and Dolores Cortés , the luxury designer Melissa Odabash from the United Kingdom and Banana Moon from the Principality of Monaco, which brought the colors and energy of its 'endless summer' concept to the runway, have also confirmed their presence again this year.

A welcome confirmation from Italy , fresh off its participation in Milan Fashion Week, Miss Bikini Luxe (photo on the left), in Gran Canaria, complemented its swimsuits by focusing on beach couture, with pieces that go beyond the beach, perfect for daily wear and evening attire, mixing exotic accents, ethnic vibes, and tribal references in a cosmopolitan key.
"New to this edition, as part of the agreement with the CFDA, is the debut in Gran Canaria of American brands and designers of international fame and success. From Guess, which, in line with a strategy to strengthen its lingerie and beachwear image in Europe with a retail focus on the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands, shone a spotlight on its Beach collection with a 100% beach fashion show on the GCSW runway, to Cynthia Rowley , the New York designer praised by Vogue America for her 'surf- leisure' style, who captured attention with wetsuits and rash guards in fully glamorous laminated fabrics, as well as bikinis paired with wide-leg pants and skirts, dresses, and tulle garments for a total 'beyond beachwear' look."

THE FAVORITES OF INTIMA.MAGAZINES

From the open-air runway set up at the Pasito Blanco port, which kicked off the event on October 2, to the historic location of the Expomeloneras Exhibition Center in Maspalomas, which hosted the shows over the next three days, we present our "chosen for you"...

BRANDS TO WATCH: Victoria Cimadevilla. The resortwear concept in shades of white, sand, and red earth by the Asturian designer, who was awarded Best Collection by GCSW, has also captured our attention! What particularly struck us were the three-dimensional floral details and oversized bows with which her collection *Flor del Desierto* celebrates female strength and resilience, drawing inspiration from the power of desert landscapes—arid, inhospitable, but of wild beauty.

STYLES NOT TO BE MISSED. From the collections of various brands on the runway, here are the styles and designs that impressed us for their creativity, prints, fabrics, and craftsmanship, carefully selected for you in the following galleries...

1. The Aqua Couture style with neon trims by Vän; 2. The rose print, a tribute to Andalusia by Alexandra Miró; 3, 4, 5. The plasti-fluo outfits inspired by beach umbrellas and inflatables by Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada; 6, 7, 8. The minimal geometric '70s pop style by Palmas; 9, 10. The brilliant sunset hues and echoes of African dances by Dolores Cortés; 11, 12, 13. The crochet swimsuits, including nautical styles, by Alejandra Alonso Rojas; 14, 15. The "Brise Méditerranée" with contrasting optical graphics by Monnur; 16, 17. The toucan print by Gisela; 18, 19, 20. The mix & match of embossed and piqué fabrics by Elena Morales.

1, 2. The sporty looks and overlayering by Arena Negra, making its debut at GCSW;
3, 4. The '60s glamour by Pomeline; 5, 6, 7. The "Morocco-style" with designer cuts by Maldito Sweet; 8, 9. Two pieces from the emerging Canarian designers' committee Isla Bonita Moda; 10, 11, 12. The Asian fusion style by Sirago; 13, 14. The playful color schemes and laser-cut flowers by newcomer Mare Far Niente; 15, 16. The bold and edgy "beach-à-porter" by Diazar.

1, 2. The recycled fabrics with shiny finishes by Econaked; 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. The color-block ribbing and striped patches in sorbet tones by Aurelia Gil; 8. The pleated designs by Daria Bae; 9, 10, 11. The frou-frou ruffles with micro prints by Como un Pez en el Agua; 12, 13. The fruit prints and inspiring slogans by MR&G Design; 14, 15, 16, 17. The fashion & fun mood with a social media twist by Chacho Svnrs; 18, 19. The terry cloth pieces blending beach and urban styles by Starlite Universe, a spin-off brand from the famous Marbella festival.