Artesania Nagergiryai

The Living Legacy of Guna Mola Art

Representing the Guna women of Comarda Kuna Yala on the Caribbean coast of Panama, Artesania Nagergiryai upholds one of the world's most intricate and spiritually rich textile traditions—the mola. Each stitch their hands complete is a testament to centuries of cultural heritage in this Central American region, where colorful layers of fabric have formed geometric patterns and nature-inspired motifs for generations.

For the Guna people, molas are more than traditional reverse-appliqué textiles; they are a sacred language, an ancient form of expression that originated in Galu Dugbis, a mythical realm where spirit women first taught the art to their ancestors. This sacred craft has been carried forward through generations, with each design embodying the Guna people's connection to nature, history, and the cosmos.

Today, Nidia Johnson de Figueres and her team of three artisans continue this legacy, ensuring that their art economically sustains their families and culturally shares the beauty of Panama with the world. As one of the few remaining groups preserving this intricate tradition, they stand as cultural ambassadors. With each mola they create, Nidia and her small team offer a rare glimpse into one of the world’s most meaningful textile arts—an art that speaks without words but tells a story with every stitch.