Panamanian Molas

The most distinctive Panamanian handicrafts are molas, the colorful cloth panels made by the women of the Kuna indigenous people, who live along the Caribbean littoral or on the San Blas Islands. (In the Kuna language, the word mola means the “plumage” of a bird.) The most complex combine up to seven layers of fabric, which are cut out with scissors to create a design, a process known as reverse appliqué. These are then augmented by intricate embroidery. Molas adorn Kuna blouses and tunics, but when the clothing wears out, the women detach the panels for sale. Traditional designs are geometric, while more contemporary ones often depict animals and plants. Several stands selling molas can be found on the eastern edge of the Casco Viejo section of Panama City.