The Mola or Molas is a hand-made textile that forms part of the traditional women's clothing of the indigenous Guna people from Panama. Their clothing includes a patterned wrapped skirt (saburet), a red and yellow headscarf (musue), arm and leg beads (wini), a gold nose ring (olasu) and earrings in addition to the mola blouse (dulemor). [ 1 ]

Mola, which originally meant bird plumage, is the Kuna Indian word for clothing, specifically blouse, and the word mola has come to mean the elaborate embroidered panels that make up the front and back of a Kuna woman’s traditional blouse.

Oct 8, 2020 · These blouses, called molas, are so visually striking and uniquely Guna that they have become the single most recognizable element of Guna cultural identity. 1 Fashioning Identity: Mola Textiles of Panamá explores the mola as both a cultural marker and the product of an artistic tradition, demonstrating the powerful role women artists play in ...

Nov 14, 2024 · Molas began as the decorative panels worn on traditional Guna blouses, crafted exclusively by Guna women. Originally, these textiles were not just about aesthetics but represented the community’s heritage, worldview, and spirituality.

Jan 5, 2025 · Mola art is a vibrant and dynamic textile art form that is deeply rooted in the culture and traditions of the Kuna people. Its significance extends beyond its aesthetic value, serving as a reflection of the community’s history, identity, and values.

Aug 23, 2023 · La mola is a textile ode to the soul of the Kunas, a symphony of colour and form. Each piece echoes a thousand-year-old history, a bridge between yesterday and today, and a tribute to the strength and ingenuity of the Kunas women. …

Molas are simple yoke-type blouses richly decorated by intricate needlework. Mola can mean the blouse that is daily wear for Kuna (sometimes spelled Cuna) women but most often refers to its front or back panel. They have been made for about a century.

May 5, 2023 · Mola art developed when Kuna women had access to store bought yard goods. Mola designs are often inspired by modern graphics such as political posters, labels, pictures from books and TV cartoons, as well as traditional themes from Kuna legends and culture.

The most celebrated modern Panamanian art form, the mola (meaning cloth) has been a marker of Kuna culture since the early 20th century. According to Kuna lore, sister and brother culture heroes Kikadiryai and Ibeorgun, gave humans the art of …

Mar 13, 2024 · In the vibrant archipelago of Guna Yala, Panama; the Guna people weave not just fabric but their very identity into the intricate Mola art. This feature explores the deep cultural significance of Mola, highlighting the beauty and challenges of preserving this unique tradition amid modernity.