About GIFW

Gambia International Fashion Week (GIFW) is where Gambian creativity steps onto the world stage — from its own soil.

Founded in 2023, GIFW is a non-profit platform built to give young Gambian talent: designers, stylists, models and every craft that brings fashion to life. The visibility, training and opportunity to build a real career, both at home and internationally. More than an event, it is an ecosystem: a place where homegrown creativity becomes a profession, and where a future in fashion no longer means leaving everything behind.

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Why We Exist

GIFW was born from a simple conviction: no young person should have to risk their life in search of a dream that could flourish at home. Our founder, Ismaila Jallow, knows firsthand the price too many young Africans pay when forced to chase opportunity far away and built GIFW so the next generation wouldn't have to. By creating legitimate, dignified pathways into the fashion industry within The Gambia, we turn talent into livelihood and offer a real alternative to irregular migration.

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What We Do

Each year, GIFW brings together emerging and established voices to celebrate Gambian culture and craftsmanship before an international audience. We mentor and showcase local creatives, connect them with industry professionals and investors, and position The Gambia as a rising reference point on the global fashion map. Our runways are more than a stage, they are a launchpad.

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The 2026 Edition:
Roots to Runway

Our 4th edition takes place from 10 to 17 November 2026 at the Banjul International Conference Center in Bijilo, under the theme "Sustainability, Recycling, and Made in Gambia — Roots to Runway."

This year, sustainability sits at the heart of everything we do:

• Recycling. We teach a new generation to give discarded materials a second life, turning waste into design and nurturing a culture of respect for the environment.

• Made in Gambia. We champion local textile production, strengthening homegrown industry and building a more self-reliant fashion economy.

• Investment & Opportunity. By revealing the cultural and economic power of Gambian fashion, we invite leading international partners to invest where it matters most.

For the first time, the 2026 edition is also a competition. This year's winners will earn a study journey to some of the finest fashion institutions in Europe and Africa, a genuine chance to turn the dream of becoming an international designer into a career.

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Our Vision

We believe The Gambia can become a true hub for creativity, sustainable production and international fashion talent.

With every edition, GIFW moves closer to that future — one runway, one designer, one story at a time.