By: Sainabou Sambou
The Gambia International Fashion Week (GIFW) has announced plans for its fourth edition, pledging to use fashion to promote Gambian culture, local production, sustainability and opportunities for young creatives.
Organizers announced this at a maiden press conference recently held at the National Center for Arts and Culture (NCAC), where they also introduced the new Face of GIFW and outlined the 2026 program.
GIFW 2026 will run from November 10 to 17, with the main runway shows on November 14 and 15 under the theme “Roots to Runway: Luxury Born in Gambia.”
Lamin Barrow, GIFW’s director and representative in The Gambia, said Ismaila Jallow founded the platform in 2023 as a non-profit to create opportunities for young designers, models, stylists and other creatives. Fashion, he said, is more than clothing — it represents culture, identity, creativity, business and opportunity.
This year’s edition will emphasize sustainability, recycling, Made in Gambia products and investment in young talent. Competition winners will be offered study trips to leading fashion universities in Europe and Africa.
Fatima Muloshi said GIFW aims to deliver visibility, training and real career paths so young Gambians can build skills, businesses and jobs without leaving home. “Talent should not have to leave the country in search of opportunity,” she said, adding that the platform could offer an alternative to irregular migration.
The 2026 edition will rest on three pillars: recycling waste into fashion, promoting locally produced materials that link farmers, artisans, designers and consumers, and positioning The Gambia on the international fashion map. “When we buy and promote products made in The Gambia, we are supporting livelihoods and strengthening our economy,” Muloshi said.
Sana B. Jarju, NCAC director of literature, performing and fine arts, welcomed the partnership signing and described fashion as a vital part of the creative industry. He recalled that Elizabeth Renner, the first NCAC board chair, was among the country’s early beauty queens, and urged young people to preserve that heritage.
Former Faces of GIFW Hadijatou Glorious Njie and Grace N. Gomez praised the platform and welcomed the successor, Matty Jobe. Jobe said the role carries a duty to represent Gambian culture and craftsmanship. “We must prioritize collaboration over competition,” she said.
GIFW also announced a casting call on October 18 at Arch 22 in Banjul for aspiring models and creatives. Organizers said the fourth edition will go beyond the runway to offer training, networking and international exposure.
