Youlty will host the Gambia International Fashion Week (GIFW) in November 2023.
The Gambia International Fashion Week (TGIF) is a project with
a perspective on creating an annual international fashion festival in the Gambia. The festival is an annual fashion and design event that was founded in 2023 by a Gambian-Italian-based fashion designer,
Ismaila Jallow, taking place in the Gambia. It brings together new and established fashion designers from across the world to promote, develop, and celebrate fashion on the African continent in various genres. Unlike the Gambia Fashion Week and the Janjanbureh Kankurang Festival, the Gambia International Fashion Weekend is the Gambia’s biggest annual gathering of fashion designers and artists.
The goal of the project is the enhancement of the Gambia’s fashion and design by launching the annual Gambia International Fashion Week The project targets youth, fashion designers, artists, women, children, youth-led organizations, and youth leaders, community-based organizations, the media, and the creative industries. The festival in 2023 will include a large exhibition of Gambian fashion products, a hall of fame for Gambian fashion, and musical performances. The Gambia is home to fashion and design. The project’s goal is to strengthen cultural ties between international fashion designers and The Gambia. The theme for 2023 is ‘’Gambian.”
Fashion Week for Cultural and Socio-Economic Development.’’ The first edition of the event will be be physically in the Gambia in November 2023. Young Ismaila Jallow and Italian partners will make a large exhibition of
Gambian and international fashion designs The Gambia is home to many fashion designers and experts in the art industry who need exposure and support to excel beyond their boundaries. This is evident with the existing Gambia Fashion Week, which could not still expose our art and designs internationally. Every year, thousands of Gambian students, professionals, and individuals who possess extraordinary ability in the arts or fashion and design graduate from high school and tertiary institutions with very good results but with very limited chances of furthering their education due to economic hardship and unfavorable conditions in the country.
Some of them are talented individuals who may not have received a good education but lack the opportunity to take part in cultural exchange programs. These brilliant youth end up diverting their fields of study or becoming liabilities in society. The Gambia International Fashion Week has come to solve these problems by providing access to the market and visibility to Gambian fashion designers.
Ismaila’s journey to success is a true testament to his unwavering dedication and hard work. Despite facing numerous challenges along the way, he never lost sight of his dreams and continued to push forward.
Through his fashion brand, Youlty, Ismaila has not only established himself as a designer to watch in Italy but also as a role model for other young entrepreneurs. His unique blend of Gambian and European influences has captivated the fashion world, earning him praise for his innovative designs and attention to detail.
But Ismaila’s contributions extend far beyond the fashion industry. His dedication to promoting social development in The Gambia has earned him recognition as a leader in sustainable development. He understands that creating opportunities for young people is key to reducing the root causes of illegal migration and has made it his personal mission to support and uplift his community through initiatives that promote education, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
As Ismaila’s star continues to rise, he remains grounded in his commitment to creating a better world for all. His story is an inspiration to us all, reminding us that with hard work and determination, anything is possible.
