Igniting Panama's Boho Scene: Artesanal Revival of the 2010’s

In the last decade, Panama's fashion scene has undergone a remarkable transformation thanks to an artesanal revival that paved the way for the inclusion of local indigenous textile art into the high end of the industry. What was once seen as kitsch reserved for commercialized souvenirs has now evolved into a vibrant creative fusion of local indigenous cultures with contemporary high fashion.

At the forefront of this movement stands Nido Shop, a key player in expanding a trend in this direction by using pre algorithm Instagram to go viral with pieces that featured the Guna mola in unconventional ways. Collaborating with local yoginis and scenesters, they branded a free spirited bohemian lifestyle clad with mola accessories, like their viral jean cut offs with mola pockets and their boho style mola beach and yoga bags.

The Rise of the Artesanal Revival:

In the early 2010s, a vital group of visionary creatives recognized the creative untapped potential of Panama’s ethnic art within the boom of multinational investment and migration. Nido Shop felt that there was untapped opportunity on the scene to more widely feature local indigenous art. They focused in on the smaller mola patches crafted by the Guna as their medium and set about designing new ways to display them. They understood that these smaller mola patches took less arduous work to make yet radiated a unique charm and artistic value within each piece. Smaller molas would make the art accessible to us and more sustainable for the artisan to create. With this recognition of the small mola as vehicle for cross cultural inclusion of a larger number of indigenous artists, Nido pushed beyond the boundaries of local traditional expectation, opened a working store in the middle of a beach town outside the city and set about the business of inspiring a huge makers revolution in Panama. 

Fueled by the economic opportunity of the era, an influx of foreigners looking for local flavor and new artist friendly social media platforms, the indie street movement gained momentum sparking a widespread revival of interest in local art and the Guna mola.

Nido’s first viral patch item was the pictured Pocket Mola Shorts. They inspired a huge wave of local crafters and artists to adopt the style and soon mola shorts were all over local social media. The same happened with our Fedora Mola Hats and Boho Mola Bags. Inspiration was harnessed and executed by so many crafters and professionals alike that soon the origin of the design was completely obscured. Their Mola Hat, Mola Short and Mola Bag designs went viral and now belonged to everyone! They enjoy seeing their Boho bag design as a standard for mola bags available in Panama markets today. They recognized when their goal of influence consistently generated results and wasted no time introducing avenues of opportunity to include outliner tribes to the artesanal market. 

The Power of Mola Patches creates Opportunity for the Ngäbe Pinta

Patches are intricate works of art in tiny; meticulously handcrafted by skilled artisans. Nido Shop recognized the power of these mola patches to feature more artists in their work. Through their commitment to mola patches for over a decade, Nido saw a sharp increase in the supply of these artistic pieces on the market, providing more opportunities for artisans of limited access to public markets and materials.
They took this as opportunity to introduce a Ngäbe Pinta patch in their bags.  Positioned for virality as the public gets accustomed to this new accessible form of the Ngabe textile art, expanding the reach and possibility in application of their traditional stitchery. By incorporating these patches into their designs, Nido Shop has breathed new life into the tiny pinta and mola style, making it accessible and appealing to a broader audience. The pinta is currently experiencing increased demand, joining the mola as a symbol of cultural pride and a testament to the enduring artistry of Panama's indigenous communities as we see it more frequently on local high fashion runways.

For Nido Shop, their commitment to incorporating these smaller mola and pinta patches into their designs went beyond just aesthetics. It also served as a means of providing opportunities for disadvantaged artists to thrive. By actively seeking out and investing in these tiny intricate molas crafted by individual artists, Nido Shop not only showcased the incredible craftsmanship but also created a sustainable market for a larger number of independent indigenous artists.

This inclusive approach enabled talented yet marginalized artisans to generate income and gain recognition for their work. The combination of Nido Shop's visionary focus on the smaller mola patches and their dedication to supporting disadvantaged artists played a pivotal role in the social aspect of the revival in local ethnic art and the subsequent transformation of Panama's fashion scene as one who celebrates local outsider talent.

Nido Shop: Pioneers of Fusion Style:

Nido Shop emerged as a key player in the early days of the artisanal revival, skillfully blending traditional mola patches with sustainable fabrics and locally inspired elements. Their fusion style celebrates the rich cultural diversity of Panama, incorporating Guna mola and Ngabe pinta motifs alongside elements such as saburete, parumas, and African wax fabrics. Through pushing the boundaries of creativity and embracing Panamanian ethnic motifs, placing images all over social media on how to innovate representation of local traditional motifs, Nido Shop has become synonymous with the modernization of artisanal textile art.

Conclusion:

The artisanal revival in Panama's fashion scene highlights the power of creativity, cultural preservation, and the fusion of tradition and contemporary style. Nido Shop has played a pivotal role in this movement, pushing boundaries and redefining the perception of the mola and pinta in the fashion world. Through their fiscal investment in mola patches and the introduction of Ngabe pinta patches, Nido Shop has increased the availability and variety of indigenous art in the fashion industry. Through their innovative designs, support of local artists, and dedication to educating the public, Nido Shop leaves a lasting impact on the local industry’s newfound appreciation for the beauty of Panama’s indigenous artesanal textile art.