{"id":217303,"date":"2023-08-23T22:22:40","date_gmt":"2023-08-23T20:22:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.visit-latin-america.com\/?p=217303"},"modified":"2025-08-14T22:55:54","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T20:55:54","slug":"the-art-of-the-mola-when-textiles-tell-the-story-of-the-kunas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/visit-latin-america.com\/en\/the-art-of-the-mola-when-textiles-tell-the-story-of-the-kunas\/","title":{"rendered":"The Art of the Mola: When textiles tell the story of the Kunas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Between the San Blas Islands in Panama<\/a><\/strong> and the forests of the Dari\u00e9n Isthmus in Colombia<\/a><\/strong> lives a people whose textile art is as fascinating as it is moving: the Kunas<\/em>. Their pride, their hallmark? The mola<\/em>. A hand-sewn piece of cloth\u2014but more than that, a fragment of identity worn close to the heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Deep Roots<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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The word mola<\/em>, which originally means \u201cbird plumage\u201d in the Dutegaya<\/em> language, has evolved over time to refer more broadly to a garment. But its spirit remains unchanged: a tribute to beauty. Inspired by the geometric body paintings once worn by Kuna women, these designs found their way into fabric after the arrival of the colonizers, when bodies became clothed. What was once drawn directly on the skin, ephemeral, was transformed into a textile sculpture\u2014assembled, woven, and sewn with care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Narratives in Thread<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A mola<\/em> is never just a pattern. It is a world of its own, a stitched expression that depicts animals, plants, scenes from daily life, or mythological references. The Tejiolas<\/em> (women who weave these textiles) can devote up to six months to a single creation, a testament to the intricacy and value of their craftsmanship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Guardians of a Living Heritage<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the Kuna community, women are at the heart of tradition. They are the keepers of this ancestral art, and the only ones permitted to create and wear molas<\/em>. These textiles, far beyond their practical use, are emblems of identity, transmission, and pride, reflecting the collective memory of this Indigenous people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Credit: Mola Museum<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A World Echo<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From the villages of the Caribbean archipelago of San Blas<\/strong> to museum showcases around the world, molas<\/em> have traveled far. What was once everyday clothing is now a recognized, collected, and celebrated work of art. Currently under consideration for UNESCO\u2019s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, the mola<\/em> even has a museum dedicated to it in Panama.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The mola<\/em> is a textile ode to the soul of the Kunas, a symphony of colors and shapes. Each piece echoes an ancient story, a bridge between past and present, and a tribute to the creativity and ingenuity of the women who keep this tradition alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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