The Young Jollof Design Association, under the auspices of the president of The Gambia Fashion Designers Association, Ndey Awa Khan, will today Friday organise its first maiden fashion show dubbed "TECKOCHI" at the well-known Duplex nightclub in Kololi.

The Young Jollof Design was launched in June this year in regards to the lack of contemporary Gambian designers. It is a profit earning association dedicated to elevating the presence of the youth in the indigenous fashion industry, and creating indigenous but global-friendly and relevant designs. According to a dispatch from the organising committee written by the public relation coordinator, Khadija Aja Tambajang, the state-of 'the-art fashion show is the brainchild of five upcoming contemporary Gambian fashion designers: Ya Awa Conateh, Ramatoulie Bittaye (Aji), Penda Matty Bah Hutley and Ndey Fatou Jassey who would like to take the fashion industry in The Gambia to a global level and also to revolutionalise the concept of African fashion in this country by focusing on Afro-Euro centric designs.

During the event, the dispatch stated there will be a showcase of three designs from each of its five designers under their respective labels; Ndey Fatou Ceesay, designer of HaHaTai; Mina Jeng, designer of Mina By Mina; Penda Matty Bah Hutley, desighner of Mystic; Ramatoulie Bittaye (Aji), designer of Benala; and Ya Awa Conateh, designer of YAWS. According to the president of The Gambia Fashion Designers Association in the dispatch, Ya Awa Khan, said they are delighted seeing these ladies creating such an association to support Gambian fashion, especially among the youth. She reiterated the need to create awareness of The Gambia's talent in the global fashion industry. She calls on the general public to grace the event, noting that, it will be amusing.

Khadija Aja Tambajang, the public relation coordinator of the young jollof design said, the event will be very amusing, adding that the audience will go home happy, considering the designs the ladies are eager to showcase tonight. According to her, the tickets are D300 for VIP and D200 for regular person.

Profile of the designers  Ya Awa Conateh
Ya Awa Conateh, aged  29 years and the president of Young Jollof Design is a diploma holder in fashion design and interior décor at Leeds College of Arts and Design of UK in 2005. She interned at the world-renowned store, Harvey Nicks in Leeds as a stylist.

Upon her returned to the Gambia in 2005, she set out to launch her own fashion line, YAWS (her nick name). She had since been a rooted fashion designer and stylist in The Gambia with a boutique in cape Point, Bakau. She had also been granted big-ticket interior designing contracts such as, Omakan Hotel and stages for pageants and political rallies. YAWS as she is commonly known, has a vision to make designers, players in both the continental and world fashion playing field.

Ndey Fatou Ceesay
Ndey Fatou Ceesay is 28 years old. She has the passion since  the age of 2 while in Togo at her mother's atelier. She found herself fascinated by the rhapsody of prints and colours of Ankara, Malian Chup (Tie and Dye) and Serr (locally woven fabrics). Upon her graduation from the British school of Lome, she attained a BA in politics and languages at the university of Liverpool but deep down she knew her passion was fashion. In 2007 to 2008, she was a junior stylist for the UK?s Instyle Magazine. She came back home in 2008 and began to work as a protocol officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She currently designs for her mother's thriving atelier and works for system one, a telecom-based company.

Mina Jeng
Mina Jeng is 24 years old with an attitude of a go-better. She is the brainchild behind the setting up of the YJD Association. From an early age, she knew she has always been an edgy fashion forward person who will mix and match pieces to create her own unique style. Her experience as a child model, affirmed her love for fashion. Mina graduated from the prestigious Marina International School in 2003 and ventured to the UK, where she stayed for six years trying to pursue her passion for fashion by working as a stylist in many high street fashion shops such as, Zara, Top shop and T.K Maxx. Her brand name in "Mina by Mina"

Ramatoulie Bittaye (Aji)
Ramatoulie is 24 years with fashion as her passion with a difference. She left Gambia as a teenager to join her siblings in Leeds, UK and because of that, she has always had her sense of independence. She has also pursued her education in fashion at the Leeds college of Arts and Design in UK. Upon coming back home in 2006, she started to work at her mother's atelier as a graphic design Consultant. Her brand is "Benala"

Penda Matty Bah Hutley
She is 25 years. She graduated from Ndow's Comprehensive High in 2004 and found herself in the printing industry. Her passion for graphic design and music promotion led her to set up her own small-scale multi purpose printing and music production business, after which her passion for fashion arose. Her brand is "Mystic"