Nearly a year in the making, we brought together the Colombian lifestyle brand Mola Sasa with the American/Turkish leather footwear brand Sabah to create a special limited edition collaboration of their coveted slip on shoes. The Mola Sasa Baba featured two colorways of an original Kuna Textile pattern designed exclusively for Sabah in collaboration with Mola Sasa and hand-sewn by the Guna Dule community of Caiman Alto, Colombia. It takes nearly two days to hand finish the textile for one pair of Babas, which are then crafted at the Sabah Workshop in El Paso, Texas — a truly global collaboration that is now already traveling the world over; cruising the streets of NYC and beyond!
«Colombia is color and music; it vibrates with its cultural mix and rich ethnic variety. This has certainly been a great influence for Mola Sasa… We mix various techniques that speak of a country full of color and diversity: in that way, we are able to share a piece of us with the world.»
—Yasmin Sabet, Founder Mola Sasa
With the goal of celebrating Colombian culture and traditions beyond Mola Sasa's work, Mola Sasa x Sabah was presented with an exclusive campaign featuring the stories of 4 Colombian immigrants in the US whose work is also centered in bringing to light their heritage and roots. Curator and gallery owner Beatriz Lopez: graphic artist, event curator and DJ Adrian Patino; chef Stephanie Bonnin; singer and songwriter Carolina Oliveros were the talents featured in the campaign and the hosts of an exclusive event (or party we should say?) that counted with Mola Sasa's first Kuna Customization Station at Sabah House NY.
In a truly special afternoon, more than 30 people upcycled their own garments with vintage Kuna textiles from Mola Sasa's archives and scraps from seasonal collections and special collaborations. From jean pockets, shirt collars, jacket cuffs and backs, to regular canvas totes and more!