Dress is very important in The Gambia in both rural and urban settings. This is evident by the large number of tailor shops along the sidewalks, as well as by the wide variety of cloth sold in Banjul and local markets.

The bright colors and prints of imported cottons, local tie-dye and batik are stylishly and elegantly worn. In traditional Gambian society, a garment should cover most parts of the body. The garment should fit loosely so that the shape of the body is not revealed. Men wear “haftaans and warambas,” which are long gowns with elongated armholes worn over baggy trousers.

Women also wear haftaans as well as warambas worn with a wrapped skirt or blouse underneath. Younger women can be seen wearing a distinctive close fitting tunic with a plunging neckline and matching wrapped skirt made from cotton prints.

In the urban areas, European style clothing is commonly worn. Although certain dress styles may be unique to one ethnic group, these clothing styles are worn interchangeably by everyone.
Much of the imported cloth comes from Asia and Europe.

Warambas and haftaans are often made from tie-dye or batik damask and are embroidered in elaborate designs. Sarongs as well as shorter warambas are also made from the locally woven strip cloth that comes in multi-colored strips between four and eight inches wide. The white strip cloth woven up country is made with local cotton or imported thread.

While women usually wear head ties that match their dresses, men often wear wool hats, skullcaps or a fez, especially on religious occasions.

Hairstyles are a work of art in The Gambia.
Women braid and plait their hair, often using fiber extensions in intricate and ornate designs. Relaxed or straightened hairstyles will also be seen in the urban areas.

Gambian women wear earrings, necklaces and pearls. Gold and silver ornaments are also popular.
Gambian women are as modest as they are elegant.

Modesty in dress is very much an influence of Islam. The thighs of a woman are to a Gambian man what the breast is to a foreigner (tubab), and thus not exposed. Wearing pants, even long ones, is considered inappropriate by tradition. Although bare breasts are not considered immoral or provocative among Gambians, women do not normally walk with bare breasts outside their compounds unless they are working or breastfeeding.