'Camariñas Surprende', the vindication of the XXXIII Lace Exhibition during Easter

The XXXIII Camariñas Lace Exhibition of the Provincial Council of A Coruña has begun, an edition that will be held from today, Wednesday, March 27, to Sunday, March 31 and that, with the motto 'Camariñas Surprende', wants to vindicate lace as a valuable element for getting to know the municipality, as well as its festivals, traditions, landscapes and gastronomy.

In this edition the statement of intentions is clear: to show that nowadays the Mostra and lace are synonymous with modernity and avant-garde. The objective is, on the one hand, to attract a younger audience, and, on the other, to focus on the fashion aspect rather than on the craftsmanship, which is also recognized. An objective from which the poster itself was conceived, the work of the Galician designer based in Marbella, Esteban Freiría, seeking a change of trend and imitating the most recognized headlines of fashion magazines.

The mayor of Camariñas, Sandra Insua, the Second Vice-President of the Government, Yolanda Díaz, and the general director of Commerce of the Xunta de Galicia, Manuel Heredia, were in charge of cutting the lace ribbon that, symbolically, gives the starting signal to the Mostra.

Sandra Insua described the Festival as "a tribute to lace, a celebration to remember and value who we are, a people woven, stitch by stitch, by the miraculous hands of women with a capital letter. Our lace-making tools, a symbol that transcends borders and that travels, from generation to generation, to become immortal." 

In her speech, the mayor also wanted to emphasize that "today the Mostra and lace are synonymous with modernity" and that "in a way it is an act of vindication of what feminism is, we are surrounded by talented, courageous, strong, empowered and good women, women who were able to transform an element intended for the intimacy of the home into an avant-garde piece, which today is used by major fashion brands to give value to their garments." 

In addition, Insua wanted to make a “small and humble tribute to the person who made it possible for us to be here today: our beloved and long-awaited Juan Bautista Ramos, mayor of Camariñas, but above all a great friend, who founded, back in 1991, the Camariñas Lace Exhibition”. “The Exhibition is what it is today thanks to the seed that he planted in our town and, why not say it, I am what I am today as a politician and as a person thanks to what I learned at his side”, he stated.

He also thanked the presence of the Second Vice President of the Government, Yolanda Díaz, and confessed that “we were surprised by the devotion to our lace that you showed when we met you at FITUR.” “Thank you for accepting our invitation and also for publicly showing off Camariñas lace,” he added.

For his part, Manuel Heredia highlighted the collaboration of the Xunta de Galicia “so that this Mostra can be a showcase for Galician craftsmanship” and congratulated “the City Council for promoting an event that is a must-see in Galicia when it comes to fashion”. “We are sure that this edition will surprise and we hope that it will exceed all expectations”, he indicated.

Finally, Yolanda Díaz highlighted that “the country is made from municipalities like this and from places as beautiful as Camariñas” and confessed the “emotion and pleasure that it means for me to be here today on such a special occasion”. “Galicia is my land, the place I love, and Camariñas is part of what I love so much about Galicia”, she commented.

"You have one of the most beautiful, popular and original cultural events that can exist, an event that defines Camariñas in the world and that is closely related to the feminine character that Galicia has, it is feminism made flesh", stated the vice president, who ended her speech by highlighting that "Camariñas is the capacity, talent and lucidity to be able to build a historical tradition. Camariñas is a reference in the world".

After the relevant visit to the different stalls and stands located in the two municipal pavilions set up for the occasion, the authorities present will witness the 'Pequencaixe' parade and, finally, will attend the inaugural catwalk of the Mostra, in which the participating firms will show for the first time the collections they have prepared for the Mostra with lace as the protagonist. The inaugural parades will be enlivened by the music of Lucía Pérez. 

XXXIII Lace Exhibition

During the five days the signatures of the category of 'Great Designers', which will be revealed in the coming days, They will take to the catwalks of the Mostra to show their lace creations. Participating are: Ana Cabranes, Anamingo, Claudina Mata, Devota & Lomba, Dolores Cortés, El Pulpo, Esteban Freiría, José Matteos and Sara Lage.

In addition, there will also be the XXX New Designers Competition in which a total of 4,500 euros in prizes will be distributed and a total of 35 young people who are taking their first steps in the world of fashion will participate. On Friday the 29th at 8:30 pm the meeting between great and new designers will be held and on Sunday the 31st, from 7:30 pm, the jury's decision will be announced.

The 'ArtEncaixe' parade, which continues to gain ground in the programming, will premiere on Thursday, March 28, at 12:45 p.m. The artisans, who will also be introduced in the coming days, will arrive from different parts of Galicia to demonstrate that lace is versatile and can be adapted to different materials. Participating are: Alfarería La Cacharrera, Estilo Aramar, EASD Mestre Mateo, Lola Logaro, Mar Barral, Obradoiro Tonio, Ondas do Mar, O Rulo, Suso Calo, Tendataller Feituras, Yelena Molina.

The big news of this edition is the 'ReEncáixame' parade, will be seen for the first time on Thursday, March 28, and will be repeated on Friday, March 29, and Saturday, March 30. Participating: Eli Conde, Kabus, Luz Prado and Yolanda Román. 

Once again, the international delegations will return to the Mostra. On Friday the 29th at 12:45 pm, the first parade of the 'International lacemakers' delegations'. They will repeat on Saturday the 30th at 6:00 p.m. Participating: Bulgaria (Sofia), Slovakia (Krakovani), France (La Turballe), Gran Canaria (Ingenio), Italy (Gubbio), Italy (Novedrate), Italy (Trapani), Poland (Bobowa), Portugal (Peniche), Portugal (Serra d'el Rei), Czech Republic (Palickovani).

One of the most anticipated moments of the Festival are the fashion shows. 'Small box'. The girls and boys of the Municipal Schools create their own lace throughout the course to later design the dresses and parade in the Mostra. They become lace makers, designers and models. In addition, this year they will receive a very special visit on Saturday, March 30, from the Bolechas, who have published a special publication, with lace as the protagonist, 'The Bolechas come to learn to lace in Camariñas', which they will deliver to the students of the School. 

The same thing happens in the parade of 'Senior Lacemakers of Camariñas' which will take place on Sunday 31st at 7:30 p.m. during the closing ceremony of the event and in which residents of the municipality show the public the creations they have made throughout the year.

Lucía Pérez, Carlos Blanco, Hydn and Astarot and other outstanding acts in the program

This year attendees will be able to enjoy the music of Lucía Pérez (on Wednesday the 27th at 6:30 p.m. during the inaugural parade of the Mostra) and laugh out loud with Carlos Blanco in a monologue that will take place on Saturday, March 30, at 8:30 p.m. on the catwalk itself. 

During the five days, the folklore of the villages will be heard in the pavilions of the Mostra, mixed with the sound of chopsticks. groups Abrindo Rejo, Con toda en banda, Vaiche Boa, Mar Devalado de Camelle Association and As Cansorriñas AssociationAlso the VII Coral Meeting in which the Santa María de Cambre Polyphonic Choir, the Oliveira do Monte Branco Choir and the Brisas do Mar de Camariñas Choir will participate (Sunday 31 at 12:00).

The event will be used for book presentation such as 'Querida Camariñas… Lo que debí decirte' by Ainhoa Conde (Thursday, March 28 at 11:50 a.m.), 'Tres Imperios' by Alfonso de Sas (Thursday, March 28 at 12:20 p.m.), 'Camariñas meu curruncho e Beldoña miña barca', by Antonio Puertas Lema (Friday, March 29 at 12:00 p.m.) and 'O placer da chuvia' by Manuel Vázquez (Friday, March 29 at 12:20 p.m.).

The closing ceremony of the XXXIII Camariñas Lace Exhibition will take place on Sunday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m.

'Gourmet among laces'

The City Council will debut a new concept at the XXXIII Mostra do Encaixe De Camariñas Provincial Council of A Coruña: the 'Gourmet between laces', a space dedicated to the food sector in which food trucks and other types of sales stands to the public can be installed.

This new area, which will also house the Mostra bar, will have a special environmental decoration and will have a space with tables and chairs so that the public attending the Mostra can taste the products they buy right there.

Throughout the exhibition there will also be gastronomic tastings of powder, by Frigoríficos de Camariñas (Friday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m.) and turbot, by Stolt Sea Farm (on Saturday, March 30 at 2 p.m.).

There will also be craft demonstrations and parents will be able to leave the little ones in the Children's Park with qualified monitors.