Postcards from Panama
Tales & Traditions · Panama
Postcards from Panama
Ed came back with two boxes and a camera full of stories. Glimpses of village life, baskets in progress, and the slow art of weaving.
Several years ago, Ed returned from a short trip to Panama. It was shorter than usual, with only two big boxes in tow. What the trip lacked in cargo, it made up for in stories and photos.
Some of the images captured baskets still in progress, pieces we placed deposits on to support the weavers as they worked over many months and sometimes years. Others showed finished works that had just arrived, waiting to be photographed and shared. Then there were the fun snapshots: boys wrestling with a chicken, men on horseback, and a green window glowing against the jungle.
"Every trip is more than a collection run. It is a glimpse into daily life and the slow art of weaving."
— Jen, RFB Woven ArtFrom Ed's camera
That visit was a reminder that every trip is more than a collection run. It is a glimpse into daily life, community, and the slow art of weaving.
— Jen
Frequently asked questions about sourcing trips
Why does it take so long to make a Wounaan basket?
A medium Wounaan basket takes three to six months of daily work. A large pictorial piece can take a year or more. The hösig di coil-weaving technique requires extreme stitch density (over 30 per inch for fine work, 100+ for the finest), and the chunga palm fiber must be harvested, split, sun-bleached, and dyed by hand before any weaving begins.
What does a Wounaan sourcing trip look like?
Sourcing trips involve traveling from Panama City along long winding roads into the Darién rainforest, visiting weaving communities, meeting weavers in their homes, placing deposits on baskets still in progress, and selecting finished pieces. RFB Woven Art works directly with named artisans and pays fair prices set by the makers.
Why does RFB Woven Art place deposits on baskets in progress?
Wounaan baskets take months to over a year to complete. Deposits support the weavers financially during the long production time and confirm a commitment to purchase. The basket is built knowing it has a buyer waiting.
