In 2025, Gran Canaria Moda Cálida and the Asociación de Creadores de Moda de España (ACME) developed an educational program that has decisively strengthened specialized training as well as the crafts related to the island’s fashion. Through workshops, professional meets and educational activities, the project brought the experience of leading designers to the teachers and students of public schools, thus fostering the transmission of technical knowledge while promoting the artisanal identity that distinguishes Gran Canaria’s fashion sector.
The training program was shaped throughout the year as a coherent sequence of learning experiences. The haute couture workshop, taught by Javier Martín Galán (Nihil Obstat) at the Gran Canaria School of Art and Design, encouraged participants to delve into sleeve draping as a key element in constructing volume. Their approach combined technical analysis and hands-on practice by following a methodology inherited from Balenciaga’s tradition.
The craft of shoemaking also played a leading role due to the training provided by José Manuel Rodríguez, founder of Tamarcos. Teachers from IES La Minilla worked through the entire process: from the preparation and stitching of the pieces to the final assembly in the artisan’s own workshop, where they were able to witness firsthand the value of a craft based on precision, fine materials and generational transmission of knowledge.
The program culminated with an immersion in swimwear, a specialty closely linked to the identity of Gran Canaria. The workshop, led by designer Nuria González, allowed participants to update their designs, pattern-making and sewing techniques through practical exercises focused on base garments and professional materials. This training brought the annual program to a close, strengthening teaching skills in an area of particular importance to the island.
In parallel, the presence of ACME’s President Modesto Lomba during Gran Canaria Swim Week by Moda Cálida, added another dimension to the project. His talk to students at IES La Minilla, and his visit to designer Pedro Palmas’s atelier, reaffirmed the importance of supporting local talent, thus acknowledging the work of the program’s creators while connecting educational opportunities within the Spanish professional landscape.
During 2025, these combined actions consolidated a working model that integrates tradition, technique, and innovation, positioning education as a strategic pillar for the future of Canarian fashion. The collaboration between Gran Canaria Island Council and ACME continues to strengthen an educational and creative ecosystem with its own distinct identity, prepared to face the challenges that will shape the sector in the forthcoming years.
