Gran Canaria Moda Cálida; Gran Canaria Island Council’s public program dedicated to elevating, professionalizing, and promoting the island’s fashion industry, brought together today in Madrid the talent of four of its firms as part of OMODA Madrid es Moda’s event. Pedro Palmas, Ogadenia Couture, Aurelia Gil, and Gonzales presented their collections; three bridal and one lingerie, held across a series of independent venues. This format was designed to showcase their creative worlds to the media, influencers, buyers, and industry professionals, while fostering new connections beyond Gran Canaria.
The initiative is driven by the Gran Canaria Island Council’s Department of Economic Development, Industry, Commerce, and Craftsmanship, in collaboration with the Asociación de Creadores de Moda de España (ACME), a strategic partner of Gran Canaria Moda Cálida since 2017. Throughout the day, the designers were accompanied by the Island Council’s Councilor for Economic Development, Industry, Commerce, and Craftsmanship, Minerva Alonso; the Executive Director of ACME, Pepa Bueno; and ACME’s President Juan Duyos.
The event highlighted the diversity and potential of the island’s fashion designers through four distinctive approaches that explore craftsmanship, contemporary creations, artisanal skills, art, and regional identity. Each firm occupied its own dedicated space, designed to convey the concept and the unique universe of each collection to the public.
Gran Canaria Moda Cálida’s presence in Madrid is part of a broader strategy to support the island’s fashion business sector. Gran Canaria Island Council promotes the program Gran Canaria Moda Cálida as a public investment aimed at supporting the sector in areas such as promotion, professionalization, commercialization, and internationalization.
Currently, over 100 companies and professionals participate in or benefit from the program’s various lines of action, which are implemented through public calls tailored to the needs of designers, firms, companies, and small entrepreneurs.
Within this strategy, Gran Canaria Island Council collaborates with ACME to drive initiatives supporting, professionalizing, and promoting Gran Canaria’s fashion sector. This collaboration grants participating firms access to the expertise, professional network, and outreach capabilities of one of Spain’s leading designer fashion organizations. It facilitates connections with media outlets, key influencers, and industry professionals, while also opening doors to new opportunities for promotion, commercialization, and presence in local and global markets.
The program also includes professional consultancy and support services aimed at boosting brand awareness in areas such as management, production, communication, and business development, while fostering participation in fashion shows, trade fairs, and other industry events. Furthermore, the collaboration encompasses training programs on the island, developed in partnership with institutions such as Gran Canaria School of Art and Higher Design and IES La Minilla, designed to provide students and aspiring professionals with specialized knowledge regarding fashion, craftsmanship, sustainability, and business development.
The program’s business-oriented approach also extends to its internationalization efforts. During Gran Canaria Swim Week 2026, initiatives were carried out in partnership with Gran Canaria Chamber of Commerce, which brought together nine international buyers from Spain, Italy, Portugal, Romania, and Colombia. These efforts generated 54 B2B business meetings, resulting in eight confirmed purchases, nine advanced-stage negotiations, ten open negotiations, and 19 active business opportunities with the potential to materialize in the coming months.
These results are part of a strategy ensuring that public support for the fashion sector goes beyond mere promotion, translating instead into new business contacts, market access, distribution opportunities, and strategic alliances. At the same time, Gran Canaria Moda Cálida has strengthened ties with organizations and platforms such as White Milano, the German Fashion Council, ACME, and the Foundation Academia de la Moda Española; it has also advanced collaborations with Copenhagen Fashion Week and has initiated conversations with the British Fashion Council, Bucharest Fashion Week, ModaLisboa, and the Czech Republic Fashion Council.
Gran Canaria Island Council’s Minister for Economic Development, Industry, Trade, and Craftsmanship, Minerva Alonso, highlights that “this initiative allows us to showcase the talent of our firms in Madrid, a key stage in Spanish fashion, yet its impact extends far beyond cultural promotion.” In this regard, she emphasizes that “fashion is a business activity with the capacity to generate jobs, open up new markets, and create commercial opportunities.” “That is why, through Gran Canaria Moda Cálida, we support designers in gaining visibility, expanding their professional networks, and transforming their creativity into solid, competitive projects with real growth potential.”
The event brought together four distinct perspectives regarding Gran Canaria’s designer fashion. Pedro Palmas presented *Silencio*, featuring sculptural silhouettes inspired by Madrid’s architecture. Ogadenia Couture showcased *Mi Musa*, a collection developed in collaboration with artist Emilio Almoguera. Aurelia Gil staged a performance centered on *Cero*, her new bridal collection. Gonzales presented *MRRÍA*—its eleventh collection—inspired by the novel *Mararía* by Rafael Arozarena.
