Who Am I?
My name is Lamin, but I often go by Rey. I am the founder, owner, and Creative Director of Rey Jaiteh.
Born and raised in The Gambia, I learned to sew from my father at an early age, developing an appreciation for craftsmanship that would later shape my approach to design. Throughout high school, I spent my afternoons alongside him at the Harlem African Market, where I continued learning the discipline and patience behind making garments by hand.
Although fashion had always been part of my life, it wasn't until I was 19 that I fully committed to becoming a designer. Inspired by New York street style, childhood memories, and a lifelong appreciation for art, music, and culture, I developed the creative perspective that would become Rey Jaiteh.
Today, my work spans fashion design, creative direction, and film photography, with each discipline informing the way I approach storytelling and world-building. Through Rey Jaiteh, I create timeless, handmade garments that merge luxury streetwear with elevated business casual—designing a wardrobe that reflects the way people live today.
The Brand
Rey Jaiteh is a New York–based emerging luxury brand rooted in Harlem's cultural legacy. The brand merges luxury streetwear with elevated business casual, creating high-end, handmade garments with an emphasis on tailoring, fit, and versatility. Each piece and collection serves as an extension of my experiences and creative vision, translating personal narratives into garments designed for the way people live today.
The Why
Rey Jaiteh began as a streetwear brand, but its direction changed through lived experience. Likemany creatives today, I balanced building my brand while working a full-time corporate job. I quickly realized that the way I dressed at work didn't reflect who I was outside of it. My wardrobe felt divided: one version of myself for the office and another for everything else.
Rather than choosing between the two, I designed a new way of dressing. By merging luxury streetwear with business casual, I created a system of dress where every piece works together with minimal thought. Each garment is designed to stand on its own while seamlessly integrating with the rest of the collection, creating a wardrobe that feels intuitive rather than prescriptive.
The intention was simple: the same outfit should feel appropriate in a corporate office, an art gallery, a dinner date, while moving through the city, or at a creative meeting—eliminating the need for separate wardrobes for every occasion. This philosophy also encourages more intentional consumption. By designing versatile, long-lasting garments that transition effortlessly across different environments, the brand promotes owning fewer, better pieces—an approach that not only simplifies daily life but also fosters a more sustainable relationship with clothing.
The Next Chapter
The next chapter for Rey Jaiteh is focused on scale. The foundation has been built: a clear design philosophy, a defined brand identity, and collections that reflect a consistent point of view. Through multiple independent runway presentations, celebrity placements, and a growing archive of handmade collections, the brand has established a strong creative foundation. The priority now is expanding its reach and connecting with the audience it was created for.
Over the next year, the focus is on increasing brand awareness, strengthening wholesale and retail opportunities, cultivating strategic partnerships, and growing a community of customers who value thoughtful design, versatility, and craftsmanship. As production and operations continue to evolve, the brand will transition from founder-led execution to a scalable business with the infrastructure to support long-term growth.
The objective isn't simply to grow the brand—it's to establish Rey Jaiteh as a globally recognized luxury house, built on thoughtful design, craftsmanship, and a wardrobe philosophy that reflects the way people live today.
Building Bridges Between Streetwear & Workwear
Rey24: Business As Usual
This project reflects a shift in mindset—choosing to create freely, on my own terms, without being held back by outside opinions. At the end of the day, the world keeps moving, and I’m just one person with one life, so I prioritize my peace and what feels true to me. At the same time, the collection continues my previous work, drawing inspiration from corporate America and building on that narrative.
Rey24: Business As Usual – NYFW
September 2024
Business As Usual – Frankfurt, Germany
April 2025
Exhibit I | Experiment - Editorial Campaign
Rey23: Exhibit I | Experiment - NYFW
September 2023
Home - 2022
Home explored the question of belonging.
As someone born in The Gambia and raised in New York, I often found myself wondering where home truly was. Was it the place I was born, or the place that shaped who I had become? Rather than searching for a single answer, the collection embraced both.
Presented in New York and later in The Gambia, Home became a bridge between two places, two cultures, and two chapters of my life. Through the collection, I explored identity, memory, and the idea that home is not always defined by geography—it can also be found in the people, experiences, and stories we carry with us.
