What Are Molas From Panama? A History Of Unique Art.

Molas are a unique type of reverse applique fabric art that is hand sewn by the Kuna Indians or native people who live in the San Blas Islands of Panama.

The San Blas Islands are also known as the Kuna Yala, and have been home to the Kuna people for over 1000 years.

Native women have worn many of the designs for generations until relatively recently, in the 1950's when missionaries and Panama canal workers visiting the area began bringing them back to the United States as souvenirs.

From that time the Kuna women recognized the economic value of their art and it has grown to be the single largest source of income for the tribe as a whole.

Molas are sewn and traded on almost every one of the inhabited islands in the San Blas .

Due to demand from tourists the Kunas have begun to sew whimsical patterns of western icons so it is possible to see a thousand year old pattern for sale next to one bearing the Coca Cola logo. Serious collectors of Kuna molas prefer more traditional patterns however.

Molas are for sale in all of the towns frequented by tourists including Nargana and Rio Sidra.

For those not wishing to travel to the remote San Blas Islands they are available in specialty shops and on Amazon and EBay.

Molas can be a good investment and those featuring complex patterns and intricate sewing with many layers of fabric can fetch a hefty price. They can be displayed framed or loose. Most can be washed by hand as you would other delicate fabrics.

My wife and I had the opportunity to live and sail in the San Blas islands for several months about a decade ago. Below is a YouTube video, (not ours), which shows some of these idyllic islands, as well as one of the historic sailing dugout canoes which are still used for inter - island travel by the tribe.