Oslo, Norway

Jarga Design has already made a big step in changing how the West African fashion industry is looked at, both in Norway and internationally. The brand combines Scandinavian and West African aesthetics with products rich in history, high quality, and longevity. Jarga Design is black-owned by two Oslo-based sisters Saffie and Jankeh Njie. In 2018, the sisters moved their entire clothing production from Italy to the Gambia, their parents’ birthplace. Two years later, they have five employees and produce all of Jarga Design’s products in “The Smiling Coast.” With a desire to build a sustainable fashion industry, create jobs, and introduce new ways of working, the sisters have already succeeded in the international market.

Lemo Bags launched this fall. Jarga Design’s first bag collection in leather is handmade with natural colors in the Gambia. The bags sold out two weeks after launch. Over 60% of sales were international orders. Just over a month after the bags’ launch, the versatile Jarga scarves followed suit and will continue the same success. The 100% handmade silk scarves can complement an outfit or be used as an accessory to Lemo bags. The sisters’ design products are immersed in their cultural stories. They take inspiration from their Gambian heritage, upbringing in Norway, and the strong women in their large family. A long-term goal is to improve economic and social growth and contribute to developing a sustainable fashion industry on the African continent.