Akua Shabaka’s Fashion Week Self-Care Secrets

When Akua Shabaka speaks about her designs for House of Aama, you can feel the deep connection to history and family legacy. This season, she’s channeling that energy into a collection that’s deeply personal, inspired by her mother’s side of the family and their roots in the Carolinas. It’s a beautiful homage to her grandparents, creating a collection that feels incredibly warm and familiar.

Nostalgia Meets Self-Care Rituals

This sense of nostalgia isn’t just in her garments; it extends to how Shabaka approaches her own routines during the whirlwind of Fashion Month. She believes in honoring history while intentionally carving out space for rest, beauty, and overall wellness. For her, self-care isn’t an indulgence—it’s a fundamental practice that keeps her grounded.

Before heading from Los Angeles to New York for the shows, Shabaka made sure to prioritize herself. She anticipated a relaxing spa day, seeing it as a crucial part of her pre-departure ritual. Alongside treatments, getting her hair done is a non-negotiable part of her preparation.

Hair, Glam, and Grounding Scents

Shabaka describes her hair styling as a ritual, a way of ‘prepping her crown’ that makes her feel ready for the intense period ahead. This season, she’s opting for a ‘pick and drop’ bob, a style reminiscent of the late ’90s and early 2000s that’s making a comeback. She feels it will perfectly complement her new collection.

Her beauty inspiration draws heavily from the past, particularly the glamour of the ’50s and ’70s. She finds the crossover of beauty trends from women who were in their twenties during the ’70s fascinating. However, for her day-to-day during Fashion Week, Shabaka prefers a simple, fresh makeup look. Her go-to essentials include blushes from Rare Beauty and Tower 28, brow gel, and a touch of lip gloss.

And of course, fragrance plays a vital role. Her signature scent is a soft, vanilla-forward fragrance from the French niche brand Indult Paris – her absolute go-to. It’s a small detail that adds a touch of personal luxury amidst the chaos.

Strategic Stays and Mindful Meals

With the demanding schedule of shows, fittings, and press events, it’s easy for wellness to take a backseat. Shabaka is very intentional about creating space for it. This season, her team is staying in New Jersey instead of Manhattan. While she initially had reservations, she now sees it as a positive move.

She believes the separation from the city’s hustle will be beneficial, allowing her to prioritize rest and good meals. Shabaka emphasizes that a nourishing breakfast and dinner are more important than people often realize for maintaining energy and focus.

Celebrating Beyond the Runway

Beyond her Fashion Week presentations, Shabaka has more exciting events on the horizon. Her birthday falls in October, perfectly coinciding with House of Aama’s participation in Mecca James-Williams’ JAM pop-up event in Jamaica. She’s thrilled about this opportunity, seeing it as a way to beautifully balance the intensity of Fashion Week with a joyful celebration.

For Akua Shabaka, building House of Aama is a powerful act of storytelling, and her personal rituals are intrinsically woven into both her creative process and her well-being. From braiding her hair to spritzing her favorite scent or finding quiet moments away from the city’s buzz, she masterfully proves that the worlds of high fashion and personal wellness can coexist in perfect harmony.