Molas are reverse appliqué fabric pieces that are the front and back of the traditional blouse worn by Kuna women. The pairing or doubling of the panels originates in the Kuna conception of the world that all beings have a double, an invisible essence or soul. 

  

By the 1920’s Mola designs that are still popular today were being sewn. Molas are fabric and are used as clothing. They disintegrate from use and are often buried with the diseased.

Abstract designs inspired by nature or everyday items serve as subject matter for Molas. Motifs found on imported products, cultural rituals and ceremonies, geometric repetition, letterforms and book illustrations are sources of ideas interpreted by Kuna women.

  

Mola blouses are a source of pride for Kuna women. They are worn at all times as evidence of native roots. The blouse includes a yoke front and back, sleeves that are gathered or pleated and are attached to the shoulders, the Mola panels and wide bands of fabric at the bottom of each panel. The borders of the Mola panel as well as the cuffs of the sleeves are trimmed with decorative bands of appliqué. The blouse fabric may be a combination of different colors or prints.

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The standards that guide the Kuna artist are:  careful cutting, meticulous sewing, evenness of lines, evenly spaced elements, visual organization and vibrant color combinations.