The Gambia will host the first diaspora fashion show this year according to the Gambian fashion designer, Lamin Jaiteh aka Rey Jaiteh, the owner and director of Rey Jaiteh. In this edition, we sat with the CEO of Rey Jaiteh brand fashion and began by asking him about his work and the main target of the show among other things.
Please introduce yourself to our readers, where were you born, and your educational background.
My name is Lamin Jaiteh, but I often go by Rey Jaiteh. I’m the founder, owner, and creative director for my namesake brand, Rey Jaiteh. I was born and raised in Brikama. I graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY) with a BA in Political Science and a concentration in Criminal Justice.
Tell us about your work and how it started?
I started gaining an interest in fashion when I was a senior in high school. My dad is a tailor, so I would go to his shop in Harlem, New York right after school to learn from him. Nevertheless, I did not fully realize that fashion was my passion until I was a freshman in college. One of the clubs at my university was having a fashion event, and they gave me a chance to participate as one of the designers. Being able to showcase my work at that event and the audience loving it gave me the confidence that I was born to be a designer and my career took off from there.
How do you organize this show and who are your targets?
I began organizing this show in June-July of 2022. My goal was to stage a runway show on the beach, and initially, I had no idea where to start because I don’t know much about how things are in the Gambia. Nonetheless, I started making some phone calls, and luckily, I got connected with the right people, and we started planning about six months in advance. My goal is to showcase my collection in front of about 300 audiences. I aim to inspire young Gambians, especially aspiring fashion designers, to connect with them and build a solid fashion industry in the Gambia.
Is the show open to everyone or only targeting African/American?
The event is open to everyone, regardless of whether they’re Gambians or not.
How is Gambian participation in the show or other African countries in the US?
I’m organizing this show mainly with Gambians. All the guest performers and cultural groups are Gambians. I’m also selecting my models from The Gambia, but it’s open to everyone regardless of whether they’re Gambians. I had some models from Senegal and some in Europe showing interest in being part of the show. My model casting is on January 2nd, 2023, from 3-7 PM at Vibes Fitness in Senegambia (same building as Duplex).
Tell us about your achievements?
Since I began my career as a designer, I have had the honor to work with many celebrities like Terms, Wendy Williams, Nija Charles, Kellyn Acosta, and more. I had two independent sold-out fashion shows in New York City in 2019 and 2021. I was part of about 15 university fashion shows or more. I also had the opportunity to have my garments as part of the Black In Time Exhibition at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City. And just recently, in September 2022, I had the privilege to participate in New York Fashion Week, which was a huge accomplishment for me as a designer, and had been one of my dreams since I started my career.
This will be your first show in the Gambia, please give us an overview.
This runway show is my first show in The Gambia and my very first event outside of the U.S. At the event, there is going to be a variety of performers, including local cultural drummers, Zimba, Kora Jalo, and special performances by Jalimadi Kanuteh and Awa Gambia. The runway show is going to consist of about 30 already made garments that I carefully handmade by myself.
What is your message for Gambian youths?
I encourage every young Gambian, especially those interested in fashion, to attend this event because it is the first of its kind and by far the biggest fashion event in The Gambia. It will also be a great opportunity for young creatives to network and connect with each other. I have much bigger plans for the future, and it’d be great to have a strong connection with other Gambian creatives.