{"id":16396,"date":"2026-09-07T09:05:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T14:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=16396"},"modified":"2026-09-07T08:26:55","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T13:26:55","slug":"bright-panama-indigenous-fashion-designers-take-ancestral-craft-to-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/events-culture\/bright-panama-indigenous-fashion-designers-take-ancestral-craft-to-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Bright Panama Indigenous Fashion Designers Take Ancestral Craft to the World"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The runway may have been in Panama City, but the ambition stretched far beyond national borders. On September 6, designers from the Guna, <a href=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/environment-wildlife\/panama-shuts-chagres-national-park-amid-rising-river-danger\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/environment-wildlife\/panama-shuts-chagres-national-park-amid-rising-river-danger\/\">Ember\u00e1<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/politics-government\/panama-sends-emergency-aid-to-flood-hit-bocas-del-toro-and-ngabe-bugle\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/politics-government\/panama-sends-emergency-aid-to-flood-hit-bocas-del-toro-and-ngabe-bugle\/\">Ng\u00e4be <\/a>communities brought their heritage to a cultural catwalk at Mi Pueblito Interiorano, proving that Panama indigenous fashion carries a global resonance. Their recent appearance in Washington and upcoming presentations at international institutions signal a pivotal moment for artisans who have long woven identity into every stitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d3941.1868827111393!2d-79.54919822430918!3d8.95492069014275!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x8faca8b2c74f3ac3%3A0x67eaacd64683ab1e!2sComplejo%20Tur%C3%ADstico%20Mi%20Pueblito!5e0!3m2!1sen!2spa!4v1788787504862!5m2!1sen!2spa\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" style=\"border:0;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Panama Indigenous Fashion Finds International Stages<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For years, the mola and other Indigenous garments remained largely tied to local markets and tourism. That&#8217;s changing quickly. Yhanissell Ch\u00e1vez, a Ng\u00e4be designer, revealed that the group recently showcased their work in Washington and has plans to present at various embassies, the Organization of American States, and the United Nations. These aren&#8217;t casual invitations. They represent institutional recognition of a design language rooted in centuries of tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Recently we were in Washington, soon we will be at different embassies, at the OAS, at the UN, and these are spaces where we can speak about our culture in a positive way&#8221; [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AqDaFkkY8Hs?cc_lang_pref=en&#038;hl=en&#038;cc_load_policy=1\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This international momentum reflects a broader trend across Latin America, where Indigenous fashion is increasingly seen as both cultural heritage and <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Contemporary_art\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Contemporary_art\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contemporary art<\/a>. Curators and cultural institutions have begun treating traditional weaving and embroidery not as static folklore but as living creative practice. The Panamanian designers are part of that shift, carrying techniques passed down through generations into spaces that once excluded them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ancient Techniques Behind Modern Silhouettes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The event, organized by the Culture Directorate of the Panama Mayor&#8217;s Office and titled <strong>&#8220;Women Who Weave Identity,&#8221;<\/strong> brought together fashion, artistic performances, photography exhibitions, crafts, and traditional gastronomy. The clothing itself merged traditional elements with modern cuts designed for people of all ages. Rather than simply replicating historical garments, the designers reimagined them for contemporary wardrobes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ember\u00e1 designer Katleen Dorigima emphasized that understanding each piece requires knowing its origins. She pointed to the paruma, a traditional Ember\u00e1 garment, and explained how her ancestors once used the bark of the rubber tree in their clothing traditions. These materials and methods carry stories that a simple fabric label could never communicate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;First of all, so that the person knows where each design comes from&#8221; [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Db1V9J7kTAT\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Db1V9J7kTAT\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/Db1V9J7kTAT\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Kathleen Dogirama (@kathleendogirama)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ver\u00f3nica Arosemena M\u00e9ndez, representing the Mayor&#8217;s Office, described the work as emerging directly from ancestral heritage. The designers aren&#8217;t borrowing inspiration from distant cultures or seasonal trends. They&#8217;re translating their own communities&#8217; visual languages into forms that resonate with modern audiences, both at home and abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Economic Opportunity Through Creative Entrepreneurship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Indigenous women, fashion design has become more than an artistic outlet. It&#8217;s a pathway to economic independence. Guna designer Yali Rondan spoke candidly about this dimension, framing design knowledge as a tool for opening creative and financial spaces for women. She argued that learning the craft allows women to create unique pieces and casual garments that all Panamanians can wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Fashion design is also an ally: learning, gaining knowledge so we can then give women the opportunity to create unique pieces through fashion design, casual pieces that everyone can wear, that Panamanians can wear, because I believe the mola belongs to all of us Panamanians&#8221; [Translated from Spanish]<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That inclusive vision challenges the notion that Indigenous fashion belongs only to specific communities. Rondan&#8217;s words position the mola as a national treasure, something every Panamanian can appreciate and wear. The event included entrepreneurship displays alongside the runway show, reinforcing the connection between cultural expression and sustainable livelihoods.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ngbe-bugl-at-sun-rise-600x400-1.webp\" alt=\"Ng\u00e4be Bugl\u00e9 at Sun Rise\" class=\"wp-image-9378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ngbe-bugl-at-sun-rise-600x400-1.webp 600w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ngbe-bugl-at-sun-rise-600x400-1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ngbe-bugl-at-sun-rise-600x400-1-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ngbe-bugl-at-sun-rise-600x400-1-450x300.webp 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">By Ng\u00e4be International &#8211; Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=144963485<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Preserving Culture One Garment at a Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dorigima put it plainly when she said the work aims, above all, to preserve their culture. Every paruma sewn, every mola stitched, every modern adaptation shown on a runway represents an act of cultural survival. These designers operate in a country where Indigenous communities have fought for recognition, land rights, and the simple dignity of having their traditions respected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The gathering at Mi Pueblito Interiorano also featured a discussion session with the three designers, offering attendees a chance to hear directly about the meanings embedded in their work. Photo exhibitions documented the creative process, while traditional food and crafts provided a fuller sensory context for understanding the communities behind the clothing. The orchestra of visual and culinary elements created an immersive cultural experience that extended well beyond fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/indigenous-fashion-panama-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"indigenous fashion panama Credit: Foto oleh Fernando Alvarez, USAID dari Pixnio\" class=\"wp-image-16397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/indigenous-fashion-panama-1200x800-1-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/indigenous-fashion-panama-1200x800-1-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/indigenous-fashion-panama-1200x800-1-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/indigenous-fashion-panama-1200x800-1-150x100.webp 150w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/indigenous-fashion-panama-1200x800-1-450x300.webp 450w, https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/indigenous-fashion-panama-1200x800-1.webp 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">indigenous fashion panama Credit: Foto oleh Fernando Alvarez, USAID dari Pixnio<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What&#8217;s emerging from Panama is a model where Indigenous women lead their own representation. They choose which techniques to preserve, which elements to modernize, and which international doors to walk through. Their upcoming appearances at the OAS and the UN aren&#8217;t just about showcasing beautiful garments. They&#8217;re about asserting that Panama indigenous fashion deserves a permanent seat at the table of global design, not a temporary spotlight. As these women continue weaving, stitching, and speaking, they carry entire communities into conversations that have too often excluded them. The runway, it turns out, can be a powerful platform for self-determination.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The runway may have been in Panama City, but the ambition stretched far beyond national borders. On September 6, designers from the Guna, Ember\u00e1, and Ng\u00e4be communities brought their heritage to a cultural catwalk at Mi Pueblito Interiorano, proving that Panama indigenous fashion carries a global resonance. Their recent appearance in Washington and upcoming presentations<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16395,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37,30],"tags":[6768,5665,6769,6767,6770],"class_list":["post-16396","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-events-culture","category-business-economy","tag-designers-design","tag-fashion-panama","tag-indigenous-fashion","tag-indigenous-their","tag-panama-indigenous"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16396","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16396"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16396\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16398,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16396\/revisions\/16398"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16395"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16396"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16396"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16396"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}