The Molas art in this collection
by Guna artists of Panama
You'll see in the images below that we not only photographed the front 'A' sides, we also captured the back sides or 'B' sides which will be surprise 'extra images' for buyers - some of them are pretty interesting. In addition we curated some of the more interesting sections of select 'B' sides, zoomed in on the best parts, to serve as additional abstract, digital-only NFTs.
Molas are hand-made mostly using a reverse appliqué technique. Several layers (usually two to seven) of different-colored cloth (usually cotton) are sewn together; the design is then formed by cutting away parts of each layer. The edges of the layers are then turned under and sewn down. Often, the stitches are nearly invisible. This is achieved by using a thread the same color as the layer being sewn, sewing blind stitches, and sewing tiny stitches. The finest molas have extremely fine stitching, made using tiny needles.
The largest pattern is typically cut from the top layer, and progressively smaller patterns from each subsequent layer, thus revealing the colors beneath in successive layers. This basic scheme can be varied by cutting through multiple layers at once, hence varying the sequence of colours; some molas also incorporate patches of contrasting colours, included in the design at certain points to introduce additional variations of color.
Molas vary greatly in quality, and the pricing to buyers varies accordingly. A greater number of layers is generally a sign of higher quality; two-layer molas are common, but examples with four or more layers have a higher value. The quality of stitching is also a factor, with the stitching on the best molas being nearly invisible. Some molas rely on embroidery to some degree to enhance the design.
A mola can take from days to weeks even months to make, depending on the complexity and size of the design.
Guna Molas Tribe - Molas Fabric Art Gallery