Ancestral Threads and Fashion With House of Aama

House of Aama Featured on American Masters

Pictured: Founders and Mother-Daughter Duo Rebbeca L. Henry and Akua Shabaka. Credit: American Masters

The newest episode of American Masters highlights House of Aama, a visionary fashion brand led by a mother and daughter who use design to explore memory, identity, and Black cultural heritage. Now streaming on WHUT and the PBS app, the episode offers a behind the scenes look at how their garments are created with intention and rooted in ancestral storytelling. Through fabric, silhouette, and symbolism, House of Aama brings history to life in a way that is both personal and universal.

Fashion as a Language of the Diaspora

African diaspora stories have long been passed down through oral tradition, music, and visual art. Fashion is another powerful medium for preserving and expressing these narratives. House of Aama draws inspiration from folklore like Anansi the spider and from the spiritual and cultural traditions of the African diaspora. Their work shows how clothing can carry ancestral memory and serve as a living archive of resilience, beauty, and identity.

The Power of Storytelling Through Style

In a time when cultural narratives are often overlooked or misrepresented, House of Aama offers a compelling reminder that fashion can be a form of resistance and remembrance. Their designs speak to the richness of Black history and the importance of honoring the past while shaping the future. This episode of American Masters is a celebration of creativity, heritage, and the enduring power of storytelling through style.