Kuna Mola in "Paddle" design

Molas (the word means "blouse" in the Kuna language) are a textile folk-art form using traditional motifs, created by the Kuna Indians of the San Blas archipelago off the shore of Panama. Created by a quilting technique in which multiple layers of cloth are stitched together, with designs created by cutting out and exposing underlying layers, these decorative panels are then used to create the fronts and backs of blouses worn by Kuna women.

Motifs used range from everyday objects (such as this design featuring canoe paddles), to local plants and animals, event commemorations, legendary figures, and political commentary.

The Art of Being Kuna: Layers of Meaning Among the Kuna of Panama (32 pieces from the collection of the National Museum of the American Indian)

Molas and Kuna Background and History

Molas: Technique, History, and the Women Who Make Them