Dancing Dogs mola by Kuna Indians of Panama 2.556

The Archipelago is composed of over three hundred islands, some inhabited, some not, some named others remaining nameless to this day, all of them surrounded with crystal clear waters. It is Paradise found.

The Kuna people wear dresses adorned with hand made molas, as well as colored bead ornaments on their wrists and ankles. Chains, pectorals, a red headress, and gold noserings complete their every-day attire.

But to complete your visit you will undoubtably purchase a souvenir mola to remember your adventure.

Molas are undoubtedly the most famous art produced in Panama. The Kuna women have been sewing these works of art for years. They incorporate them into their clothing, usually with one mola serving as the front of the blouse, and another for the back. The mola is often described as a reverse appliqué. For each color of cloth that you see there is a piece of cloth of that color sewn into the mola. Each mola is hand-stitched with thousand of stitches. The theme of the mola is determined by the imagination of the artist.

The way that Kuna women dress has come to symbolize their �Kunaness,� . In addition to mola blouses, women wear imported red and yellow head scarves, wrap around skirts, gold nose rings and earrings, and rectangular units of decorative beads which encircle calves and forearms. In addition, a black stripe is painted on the nose and runs the full length of it. This practice is thought to enhance beauty, and is a reminder of the more extensive body painting practices of former times. Women sometimes paint their faces with a rouge made from achiote seeds. Mola making itself originated with the Kuna in the second half of the nineteenth century.

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