From The Gambia to the North East: Jerry J Clothing Soars at Graduate Fashion Week

National World - LocalTV

Jerry J Clothing, founded by designer Lamin Gibba, presented its first runway show, “Born to Elevate,”  at The Boiler Shop in Newcastle as part of the city’s Graduate Fashion Week.

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00:00Jerry J Clothing, founded by designer Lamin Gibber, presented its first runway show,

00:05Born to Elevate, at the Boiler Shop here in Newcastle, as part of the city's Graduate Fashion Week.

00:11The collection combined elements of Lamin's Gambian heritage with modern British fashion,

00:16exploring themes of cultural identity, tradition and contemporary design.

00:21So, Jerry J Clothing, I got inspired for my love for fashion.

00:27Since growing up in Gambia, I spent a lot of time in my aunt's tailoring shop.

00:31And I love clothes, so that's where the inspiration comes from.

00:37And I was working as a carer a few years ago.

00:40Then when I got my son Jackson, then working as a carer, but I also want to do something that I really enjoy.

00:46So that's how I started the brand, Jerry J.

00:50So, Jerry, I grew up in Gambia, I was, as a teenager, I was in a rap meeting.

00:55So, Jerry is like my nickname, from like Tom and Jerry.

00:58So, because I was the little one in the group, so that's how I got the name Jerry.

01:02And the J is my son Jackson.

01:04So, together we formed Jerry J for Elevate People.

01:07Creative-wise, everybody is like very supportive of each other.

01:12And I'm someone who kind of like championed love.

01:16I love the North East.

01:17So, I consider myself as an adopted Jodie.

01:20So, I used to be a young ambassador for the Princess Trust.

01:25So, because of that, I used to go to London a lot for like events.

01:29I got invited to represent the Princess Trust.

01:31So, whenever I see creative down in London, and I see them doing stuff, I'm like,

01:35why can we not do this in the North East?

01:37We have people who are like talented and like, who are like good as them,

01:41but it sounds like all the opportunities like down south.

01:43So, that kind of like, feed me to be like, to represent the North basically.

01:49Originally from the Gambia, Lambin moved to the UK and settled in the North East.

01:54With support from the Princess Trust, he launched Jerry J clothing

01:57and began building his career in fashion.

02:00The brand reflects his cultural background and personal journey,

02:03blending them with a creative and practical design approach.

02:07When I came here, I started from humble beginnings.

02:10So, and I'm still like striving, like working on my dreams, achieve my dreams.

02:16So, that's why I'm like, born to elevate.

02:18Don't limit yourself.

02:19What you want to do in life.

02:20Professionally, when I started, it's like personal development.

02:22When I started the brand, I didn't have much knowledge, but I've grown a lot.

02:26Like, I'm just graduating with a BA in fashion communication.

02:30I'm starting my master's in September.

02:32And it scares me like, amount of creative I know now from starting the brand.

02:38And the mentorship I have.

02:40Everybody in the office is like, so supportive.

02:43So, that's why I said, born to elevate, like from my humble beginnings.

02:47And I keep striving hard to achieve my goals.

02:50So, that's why I said, don't limit yourself.

02:52If a kid like from Gambia can do something like this,

02:56like you can do anything.

02:58So, just work hard to achieve your dreams.

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