The Mola of the Kuna Indians is a textile art created by Kuna People from Panama and Colombia. The word mola comes from the word Kuna (Dule Gaya) meaning Clothing.

When the arrival of the Spaniards and the missionaries to America in the fifteenth century, new materials and changes in customs also arrived, including cloth. Initially, the Kunas painted their skin with drawings (tattoos) but they were then transferred to the fabrics and then became the handicrafts we know today.

According to the Kunas belief and transmitted from generation to generation through songs, it is said that 3 deities descended among them twins called Olonitalipipileler and Kabayai. The third was called Ilamagun. To Kabayai at puberty, the name was changed to Magiryai and was responsible for teaching women to make hammocks, prepare threads, fabrics, cotton, to sew, to take care of children, to make pots, jars and to prepare food and drinks.

We can classify The Mola of the Kuna Indians into 3 large groups: Abstract Forms, Geometric Forms and Living Forms.

1. Abstract Forms: They are figures that are inspired by dreams or imagination of the person. It represents the pure thought of Guna.
2. Geometric Shapes: They are usually taken from the geometric patterns of some plant such as leaves and medicinal stems, for example, aloe which is a very important plant in Guna medicine.
3. Living Forms: It transfers its observation of living beings as the fauna and flora that lives in the Panamanian and Colombian mountains.

I’m not an expert on the subject, but throughout my life I’ve watched my mother create hundreds of them. The steps to create are as follows:

1. Create a sketch of the design in a paper.
2. Choose several fabrics of different colors of the same size and cook with long strokes along the edges (Hilván dots).
3. Lay the design from paper to fabric to create patterns and guides to know where to cut and stitch.
4. Once the drawing is established, the respective cuts are made to combine the colors with the lower layers. You can also add pieces of fabric to give more color to the design.
5. Apply stitches like: stitch back, cross stitch, individual cross stitch, etc.

Today, The Mola of the Kuna Indians have been extended beyond, now they are used in bags, pillows, bathing suits, boots, hair bands, among others. The one that has applied very well is the Colombian designer Maria Cecilia Benedetti and his company Pitahaya Swimsuits.

If you want to buy a Mola of the Kuna Indians in Panama City, you can find it in the handicraft market of the Plaza de 5 de Mayo, Casco Viejo and in the artisan market of La Vieja Panama. As examples.

I hope this article is a guide for students and tourists interested in Guna culture. Remember to follow us on our social networks and if you liked to share it.