Panama.-The launch of the shoes with Molas designs was cancelled by Nike to the chagrin of the native people of Panama who filed a complaint to the U.S. multinational for using their handcrafted textiles known as “Mola”. It is worth mentioning that this footwear was expected to pay homage to Puerto Rico.
We apologize for the incorrect representation of the design origin of the Nike Air Force 1 ‘ Puerto Rico ‘
He declared a multinational spokesman in an email sent to the Associated Press on Tuesday. “Therefore, this product will no longer be available.” According to press reports, the new sneaker was also inspired by a native Puerto Rican amphibian and was to be released in June. La Mola is a handmade embroidery in which fine threads and needles are used to sew layers of colorful fabrics on each other and that shape geometric and animal designs. They are the essence of the dress of the indigenous Gunas, although its designs have also been commercialized and are usually used in dresses, in handbags and in all kinds of ornaments.
Following this issue, I understand that Molas being an INDIGENOUS art, you can not even reproduce and market as well! Since that is handmade by an Aboriginal people. All wrong here. pic.twitter.com/3LPxPtwRa2 — Lēzcanø (@ericklezcano26)
May 17, 2019
The measure of Nike takes place on the same day that authorities of the indigenous group Guna claimed in Panama City to that company for the use of the designs of molas without consent or after consultation with its traditional creators. In a statement they said that it was an act of “piracy” by not taking into account that the Mola is protected by a national law and that considers it a patrimony of the guna people of Panama. They stressed that their claims had the support of their gunas peers from Colombia. The Zaila of the Guna Yala region, Belisario López, said that this is the first time they have a mess with an international company for the use of such designs. He said that the authorities of his ethnic group have given the right to use the Mola by licensing several national firms.
Let’s look for the way possible for the Nike company to recognize that it is using a design that belongs to us, said Lopez in a separate with the AP. − We are not against our mola to be marketed. What we are against is that it is done without the previous consultation
The Gunas are one of the seven indigenous groups in Panama–all of which account for almost 15% of a population of four million–and live mostly in the Caribbean region. They are known outside the borders precisely because of their famous molas, which are their emblem and one of their main livelihoods.
“It is a story that has the people of Guna,” Lopez pointed out, referring to the process of making the Mola and added:
It represents Mother Earth because her designs are based on all that is nature. For us it is a dress exclusively for women ”
Original source in Spanish
