Today, molas are inspired by the landscape, political posters, picture books, and television images, along with regional Kuna legends and culture. They are an absorbing and brilliant combination of the ancestral and modern world. Molas are sold to tourists and have found their way to museums around the world. But, Molas are made to be worn.
When a Kuna woman tires of her piece, she may disassemble her blouse and sell the panels. They are commonly sold in pairs: the front and back, and tend to have a common theme.
Signs of wear helps to determine whether or not the mola is authentic. If you would like to learn more about the Kuna people and their traditions, our Spirit of Panama tour is a great way to discover the San Blas Islands as well as visit some of Panama's best natural wonders.
Our 3-day Panama tour extension to the islands is also recommended. Tailored to You. Tell us your travel interests, dreams and desires, then let our experts tailor the perfect trip for you!
Peace of Mind. They have been made for about a century. The long shifts that were first worn were cumbersome and soon crept up to blouse length, to be paired with a simple sarong. Early loose-fitting molas gave way to blouses of smaller size.
Each panel is constructed of multiple layers of cloth of contrasting colors. The layers are carefully snipped, peeled back to reveal the underlying colors and stitched together to create the pattern. The technique is sometimes referred to as reverse applique.
Molas can often have as many as four colored layers of cloth with extra color pieces and embroidery accents added. It takes many hours of sewing to create even the simplest mola.
The first designs that Kuna women developed for mola panels relate to the body painting that had been traditional for centuries. Mola-makers transformed images of daily life and of the flora and fauna of their islands into mola designs. Yards of string are looped through tiny glass beads which then are systematically wrapped and tied around the appendages, making different patterns with various colors.
While the Kuna Yala area is quite small and secluded, the Kuna people have been able to live in their own autonomous region, continue their indigenous culture, and embrace their traditions by sharing them with people from around the world. Skip to main content. The Holbrook Explorer. You are here Home. Kuna Culture: Traditional Dress. Apr 10, Traveler Resources by administrator.
Mola Mola , which has come to be representative of the entire Kuna culture, means fabric or shirt in traditional Kuna language. Muswe This is the typical head scarf that a Kuna woman wears.
0コメント