Orange And Aqua "25" Mola

  Hand-stitched Panama Mola Fair Trade Latin American Textile Art

HAND STITCHED BY INDIGENOUS ARTISANS:TraderBrock’s Molas are hand-sewn by indigenous Guna formerly known as Kuna artisans in Panama. We offer a wide range of sizes and designs. Because of its unique handcrafted nature, no two pieces of our fair-trade Mola are the same.

WHAT IS A MOLA? The Mola is a hand-made textile that forms part of the traditional women's clothing of the indigenous Guna people from Panamá, Columbia, Central America, and South America. Molas have many uses. They can be framed as art for wall hangings, made into pillows, bedspreads, place mats, or used as fabric for quilting projects. 

TRADITIONAL CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN: Molas are hand-made using a reverse appliqué technique using several layers of different colored cloth. The largest pattern is typically cut from the top layer and smaller patterns from each underlying layer. Geometric molas are the most traditional. Originating from ancient body paintings. Designs usually portray wildlife in the Rainforest. Inspiration comes from the nature and beauty that surrounds them. 

EMPOWERING NATIVE ARTISANS: Since 1991, TraderBrock has been providing Panamanian Embera, Guna, Wounaan, and Ngäbe, artisans with a global market for their handmade products. For the past twenty years, all sales revenues have been reinvested into the artisan community of Panama. This includes education, medical care, land purchase, tools, and other needs.

Many molas have the number 25 as the theme. The reason is in 1925 a number of Panamanian city folks went to the San Blas Islands intent on showing the Kunas how to dress, dance, and more. They were lucky to get away with their lives. The Panamanian government soon gave the Kunas a large degree of autonomy. Hence, the 25 on molas.

• 11" Height x 15" Width
• Fair Trade
• Made in Panama
  
• SKU: PM2567T