Fair-Trade, Vegan-Friendly Mola Shoes Fuse Traditional Art With Contemporary Design
Photo credit: The Aware Network
These hot tamale Mola shoes from Down Under-by-way-of-Colombia are not for the wilting wallflower or the fashion conformist. Ethically made by the indigenous Kuna Indians from reclaimed Mola textile art, the hand-tailored kicks feature reverse applique embroidery in psychedelic, retina-searing hues and acid-trippy designs inspired by tribal body tattoos.
Each artfully rendered pair is one-of-a-kind, vegan friendly, and a masterful fusion of ancient and modern techniques. And these conversation-starters come with a helluva story, too.From The Aware Network, which collaborates with the Kuna to bring us the shoes:
Molas represent a view of the cosmos and life, a vision of the world full of colour and meaning for this Native Indian culture vision of the world.
A Kuna woman sews a mola to reflect her mastery of life and wisdom. The detail and mastery of the textile creation she wears shows her maturity, wisdom and experience in life.
Once a woman enters a new chapter in life, she unstitches the old Mola from her blouse (lets go of the old) and stitches on the new Mola (welcoming the new).
Bonus: 10 percent of profits go to charitable causes, including the International Women's Development Agency, Cultural Survival, and World Council of Elders.
Photo credit: The Aware Network
Photo credit: The Aware Network
Photo credit: The Aware Network
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