House of Aama is a fashion brand that showcased its Ready-to-Wear Fall/Winter 2023 collection during New York Fashion Week. The mother-daughter duo behind the brand, Rebecca Henry and Akua Shabaka, have infused their designs with a reverence for the past and collective memory, encapsulating the spirit of African diasporic folklore.

House of Aama’s selection of clothing honors the past and communal memory. Their choice of fabric, which wraps the body elegantly and uniquely, shows their skill and attention to detail.

Mesh pieces with painterly floral motifs worn with fitted pinstripe skirts and knotted tops; tailored robes with bright geometric prints; and gowns and dresses in varied colors cut with ruffle embellishments and panniers brought to life this narrative of interweaving tales and backgrounds. Raw woven silk with loosely connected panels, jute dresses and pieces for men, and spider-inspired embellishments in the shape of tiny crystal spider webs applied to dark blue denim all added to the collection’s textural diversity. As appearance is important in the Caribbean, we wanted to use components rather than raw materials, said Henry.

To cater to a more mature customer, the designers have styled their woven dresses with an air of refinement and a touch of playfulness. Nonetheless, patterned mesh tops and bodycon dresses are predicted to be the most popular among the younger population. The tailoring sweet spot for their clients was sleek, sensual, and purposeful but amazingly adjustable.

Menswear also found its footing this season, with pieces cut casually and away from the body and a vibe that suited well within the world of House of Aama while standing on its own. Because House of Aama skipped the previous season, more models than usual opted out of this collection. The designers have not yet determined a release timeline for their collections, but one thing is certain: they are in no hurry. Shabaka cautioned against rushing through the stories. They are intended to be strenuous.

At New York Fashion Week, the Ready-to-Wear Fall/Winter 2023 collection from House of Aama was praised for how well it mixed high fashion and folklore in a way that stood out.