A reader sent the following photo of a “mola dress” she purchased on the Internet. She asks if it is “authentic” or if she should cut it up to use in making textile art.
Mola “dress” sold in Panama
This dress has a tag inside that says: “Seds Crafts”
MOLAS
PANAMA
P.O. Box 6-8789
Panama 6 Panama
60% cotton & 40% Polyester
RN-80079
My response to Pam is one of surprise. In my vast studies of molas, traditionally made by the Kuna Indians who live on archipelagos off the coast of Panama, I have never seen anything like this dress, attributed to them. No doubt the dress was manufactured in Panama but it seems to be a spin-off, based on Kuna designs, but perhaps not made by them, any more than the tee-shirts with printed mola designs. I suggested that she “hang onto the dress” and not cut it up for re-use. Perhaps some of my friends who are mola dealers and sell on e-Bay and elsewhere can shed more light on this topic. As for me, this is the first time I’ve seen anything like this!
Update: I just found the answer! I checked e-Bay and found this statement on auction #260816508840 that features another Kuna-Indian inspired garment:
“In recent years the crafts of “Molas” has found a new place in modern manufacture of clothing, giving new forms of art expression, several Panamanian designers are using molas on their clothing. This garment was designed and made by “Sed’s Crafts Molas Panama.”
Patricia Cummings
Quilter’s Muse Publications, a website that has comprehensive historical articles about molas and the Kuna Indians
