The Council of Fashion Designers of America has partnered with the upcoming Gran Canaria Swim Week. Two CFDA member designers, Alejandra Alonso Rojas and Cynthia Rowley, have been invited to showcase their upcoming swim and resort collections during the global swimwear show, which takes place Oct. 2 to 5 on the island of Gran Canaria, Spain.
Alejandra Alonso Rojas
Jenna Greene for WWD
GCSW is a global exclusive swimwear platform, and this partnership is a cultural exchange hub and opportunity to secure new distribution channels for American designers in European swim markets. Some 36 brands are slated to show their collections.
Rowley and Rojas are showing as guests of Gran Canaria Swim Week by Moda Cálida and do not have to pay to show there.
Rojas hails from Madrid, and her recent spring 2025 collection was inspired by Andalusia and the Spanish region’s beauty and vibrancy. She was recently selected by WWD during Hispanic Heritage Month as one of 10 Latino designers who are shaping the world of fashion.
Rowley, a passionate surfer, got her start designing printed wetsuits for Quiksilver/Roxy, when she met the creative director while surfing. She went to design wetsuits for her own eponymous fashion company, where her suits retail for around $300.
“Gran Canaria Swim is an important international market for American designers to connect with buyers in an authentic way, set in a beautiful location, and aligns with CFDA’s mission to help members expand their business opportunities,” said Steven Kolb, chief executive officer of the CFDA.
“The swimwear category is significant yet often underdeveloped, and this program aims to help American designers compete internationally, with a focus on securing new distribution channels. It has been an honor for CFDA to partner with Gran Canaria Swim Week, and we look forward to future collaborations,” Kolb added.
Cynthia Rowley
In addition to Rowley and Rojas, brands showing at the event include Alexandra Miro, Aurelia Gil, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, Elena Morales, Guess and Melissa Odabash.
Promoted by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria since 1996, the swimwear show has grown to reach more than 373 million people. During the Grand Canaria Swim Week, fashion shows and a selection of national and international brands present their swimwear and intimate collections. Some 38 national and international swimwear brands participated in the last edition of the catwalk, along with the international trade press and buyers, according to the show’s website.