Joining a mola workshop offers a one-of-a-kind experience in Panama City. Molas are integral to the traditional attire of the Guna indigenous community. You can spot women adorned in these beautiful garments while exploring San Blas or even within the capital, which boasts a notable Guna population.
In various communities, Guna women often start learning the art of making molas during puberty or even earlier. At the mola workshop, you will have the opportunity to master this intricate technique known as reverse appliqué. To craft a mola, multiple layers of fabric—ranging from two to seven—are stitched together, with pieces cut from each layer to create the design. The quality of molas can differ significantly, which is reflected in their pricing. Depending on the intricacy of the design, creating a mola can take anywhere from two weeks to six months.
Igua, the workshop leader, is a Guna woman fluent in English, thanks to a scholarship that allowed her to study in the United States. Besides conducting the workshops, she also works as a guide, artisan, and graphic designer. Her professional background includes experience at the Reprosa jewelry store and the Biomuseo. The inspiration for these workshops came from the curiosity expressed by Biomuseo visitors. As an artisan, she recognized the importance of providing a workshop that educates participants about the history and significance of the mola, knowledge she has been cultivating since she was seven years old.
The mola workshop also features a Guna song that participants will learn. Attendees will delve into the meaning of the mola and the rich history of the Guna people through visual storytelling. Additionally, they will have the chance to create a small mola, with all necessary materials provided.
Guna Mola Workshop
Discover the art of molas in Panama City with a unique workshop led by Igua, a Guna woman fluent in English. Learn the intricate reverse appliqué technique, where multiple fabric layers are cut to create designs, a skill Guna women often learn from a young age. Molas vary in complexity and creation time, taking from two weeks to six months. Igua, inspired by visitor curiosity at the Biomuseo, offers this workshop to share the history and significance of molas, a craft she’s practiced since childhood. The experience includes learning a Guna song, understanding the mola’s meaning and Guna history through storytelling, and creating your own small mola with provided materials.
Workshop highlights
- Learn how to make a small mola which you can keep.
- Led by Igua, an expert mola artisan who has been crafting them since the age of seven.
- Option to change the venue for groups or hold workshops outside Panama City.
