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Gran Canaria SwimWeek

Gran Canaria Swim Week Strengthens Its International Network with New Strategic Partnerships

2025-10-24

The Cabildo is fostering new partnerships with Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Portugal to strengthen its presence on the global swimwear scene

The meeting with representatives of the European fashion industry positions the island as a strategic hub for the international swimwear industry

Gran Canaria, October 24, 2025. Gran Canaria Swim Week (GCSW) has taken a decisive step forward in its internationalization process by holding a series of workshops focused on strengthening strategic partnerships with leading European fashion organizations. The agenda, organized by the International Department of the Gran Canaria Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Gran Canaria Island Council, brought together the Minister of Economic Development, Industry, Trade, and Crafts, Minerva Alonso, with representatives from the fashion councils of Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, and Portugal.

During the meetings, Alonso held discussions with Scott Lipinski of Fashion Council Germany; Olo Krizova of the Czech Fashion Council; Simona Severini and Raffaella Imo of White Milan; and Manuela Alexandra of ModaLisboa. These meetings served to strengthen existing relationships and open new avenues for collaboration aimed at consolidating Gran Canaria’s position on the international swimwear fashion circuit.

“In this seventeenth edition of Swimwear Fashion Week, we have once again set aside time for dialogue with the Fashion Councils, with the aim of strengthening existing partnerships and establishing new collaborations, such as those we have launched with Portugal and the Czech Republic,” , explained Minerva Alonso.

The minister emphasized that “these partnerships confirm that Gran Canaria is no longer just a national leader, but an international hub for swimwear and resort fashion. Strengthening these ties with these European fashion entities allows us to position the island as a place where creativity, sustainability, and international visibility coexist naturally.”

Cooperation with White Milán has been a key focus, with the renewal of the partnership agreement and the creation of the WHITE GCSW 2025 Award, which will allow the winning brand to present its collection at White 2026. In addition, exchanges have been established with the Czech Fashion Council to facilitate the participation of designers from that country in future editions of the fashion show.

“These agreements include exchanges that allow European designers to find a space in Gran Canaria to showcase their collections, while we promote the Swimwear Fashion Week at international trade shows and fashion shows,” Alonso noted.

Another major highlight will be Gran Canaria’s participation in the European Fashion Alliance, whose next meeting will be held on November 24 in Berlin. The invitation from the Fashion Council Germany includes not only the island’s presence but also the presentation of its model for public support of the sector as a benchmark for other European governments.

“They have asked us to explain the support program we are developing through the Cabildo because they consider it a pioneering project,” Alonso explained. “It is recognition that demonstrates the real impact Gran Canaria Swim Week is having on the European fashion ecosystem.”

The councilor also presented this initiative to the Association of Fashion Creators of Spain (ACME) to strengthen coordination with other autonomous communities and the Ministry of Industry. “Spain needs to finalize the strategic fashion plan and allocate a budget for it; only then will we move toward a shared and sustainable model of support for the sector,” she added.

Regarding new partnerships, Alonso highlighted the role of Portugal, which will provide a promotional space at Lisbon Fashion Week, and the Czech Republic, which will submit a dossier featuring its swimwear companies. “Our interest is not in relocating production, because we are committed to zero-mile products and local manufacturing, but rather in expanding the opportunities for international promotion of our brands,” he emphasized.

These partnerships, coordinated by the Gran Canaria Chamber of Commerce, are part of an international agenda running parallel to the fashion shows, showrooms, and meetings with designers, media, and influencers.

“The work we do at Gran Canaria Swim Week goes beyond the runway,” Alonso concluded. “We are building an ecosystem that connects Gran Canaria with the major European fashion capitals, driving the internationalization of our companies and consolidating the island as a creative and competitive destination.”

Gran Canaria Swim Week is the only professional swimwear fashion show in Europe and an international leader in innovation, sustainability, and talent promotion. In its 2025 edition, it reaffirms its role as a global hub for swimwear and resort fashion, cementing Gran Canaria’s position as a strategic hub for European fashion.

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