From Gambia to Berlin: Sewing a sustainable future

DW (English)

Berlin-based designer Muhammed "Jim" Njie is known for his bold "Sahara" streetwear and has been called the "Louis Vuitton of the diaspora." He turns recycled fibers into sustainable fashion and champions circular design.

Transcript

00:00I'm Mohamed Jimjai and I'm from The Gambia, based in Berlin now. I'm a fashion designer

00:07in circular and sustainable fashion. I believe circular fashion is the only way forward unlike

00:14fast fashion. Mohamed is one of many young Africans who risk everything to succeed,

00:19but his story is one of grief and an unshakable desire to make it in life.

00:24He found healing and purpose through art, channeling his journey into his fashion brand

00:29Sahara Designs. He named it after the desert that has become a symbol of peril and resilience

00:35for countless young migrants. When I was in The Gambia, I was going to school and I lost my best

00:42friend and ever since he passed away is where I really lost interest in schooling and just wanted

00:52to go away. And I wanted something better for me and my family.

01:02If I just don't feel like going to the gym, I come here. Being here, working out helps me too

01:08as a person, especially when I came new in Germany.

01:13By day, Mohamed teaches at a local kindergarten. But outside work, he's fully immersed in fashion,

01:19spending long hours developing new designs with his creative director.

01:28I just don't randomly do any art. The inspiration really comes from my grandmother. My grandmother used to

01:35sew a lot with her hands. I understand too, it's very important for us as humans to really take care of

01:43our environment too and not just produce and produce for the benefits of ourselves and looking nice,

01:51but also consider how it has a lot of negative effects to nature. Sustainability is what drives his

01:57mission. Circular Fashion encourages recycling used materials as opposed to the wear and tear logic.

02:03His limited creations can be found on his website for a limited time before they are sold out,

02:09all while avoiding waste. I don't do mass production. These are leftovers I have from the

02:18previous collection. I'm going to use the logos from the previous collection for the sake of recycling

02:25and attach them in the new identity drop. And the logo is actually called

02:31basically telling how bad smoking is. Now I'm working on a collection called Resilience. The word itself

02:43is defined as overcoming any obstacle or struggles that comes your way. And that's literally part of

02:50my story. And the vest is literally the armor you wear to tackle all these obstacles. Our attires,

02:56our materials, our textiles, so many messages behind them. And they're fantastic, they're amazing,

03:05they look beautiful. And the used clothes I use is from here and it's just from around me.

03:10Today, Mohamed's work reaches far beyond Berlin. His designs have dressed some of the biggest music

03:17stars, among them Jisul from The Gambia. He has worked with international icons like UK-based artist

03:24Pasali. And some of those creations were featured on British Vogue.

03:30This was a confirmation of everything in life is possible. Literally everything.

03:42So, if I'm not in the atelier creating designs, I'm normally outside taking pictures of my designs

03:50because I'm a photographer too and a videographer. New York, Berlin, London, Paris.

04:02One thing I really dream of is showcasing my own collection or art on Berlin First Fashion Week

04:13and any other fashion week that's in the world. This office here makes that happen for designers

04:18like Mohamed. The Fashion Council Germany supports emerging designers regardless of their background.

04:24Diverse talents are key to cementing the growth of the industry and the diaspora network is a valuable

04:30economic infrastructure. Fashion Council Germany is the organizer behind Berlin Fashion Week. And if

04:36you look at the EU policy makers when it comes to the circular fashion and textile programs that they're

04:41launching, Germany is one of the leading. The GDP that contributes from Fashion is around 80 billion euros.

04:50So, we have educational programs, we have supporting systems, we have networking platforms,

04:56and one of our core target groups are emerging talents.

05:03As a person who is part of this minority group, it's just important to just show that

05:08we have a lot to give and help develop their countries in certain ways. And fashion designers

05:17and everyone in art doing clothing should really embrace circular fashion.

05:22While his art protests the irregular journey to Europe, Mohamed is still in the process of

05:27rediscovering himself. One thing is certain, his career in circular fashion is only just beginning.

05:38The way he wishes to be on the culture.

05:40But of course, there's lots of people who want to present many different cultures who do

05:42and have pictures of the world. And he's being a smart person who has made this

05:43so that he's something that requires love to think about.

05:44For example, his work allows them to be the same, he's to be the same.

05:45Probably not for a person.

05:46But basically, his work is a great for him to be the same and for the world.

05:48He is our teacher at the same time.

05:49He is here to say on this выступ as a people who are not equal to the group.

05:51And he at the same time is a couple of people who are not familiar with these.

05:51And he is here to be the same, he has a code.

05:53And so that he was a guy who, you are not a person from the same.

05:55This kind of thing, he doesn't know where you have for anybody.

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