What are the characteristics of pollera?

Answer 1

Panama´s national folkloric dress is so rich in essence that it has many variations and styles, the main contributing factor of this is that artisans from different regions embed their own technique for making a pollera or montuno, talking about polleras I list below the most common ones:

1. Pollera Montuna (Basic Labor Day Pollera)

2. Pollera de Gala (Fine Pollera for special events)

3. Pollera de Lujo (A blast of Luxury)

Each of these types of Pollera also have their variances in Color, Style, Sewing technique and Jewelry combination and based on these types prices go from basic style to Luxury styles.

Each pollera consist in a blouse, skirt, petticoat, tembleques, shoes and Jewelry. Blouses, Skirts and Petticoats of Montuna, Gala and Luxury Polleras are made of fine fabrics and decorated with bands and laces using the "crochet" technique, others are decorated with crocheted handkerchiefs, inserts of fabric with appliqués, tinsel and embroidery work.

Tembleques for the pollera are made of very fine materials, and their designs imitate delicate flowers such as roses, impatiens, daises, jasmine and little insects like butterflies, scorpions and in some cases pigeons and peacocks.

Shoes are made of leather and decorated with satin for the Gala and Luxury Pollera depending on the style it might include a gold buckle in the front.

Ultimately the jewelry of the pollera has three options, Gold, Gold-Plated and with the help of modern industry Fantasy, some of them are worn on the blouse front and the others in the hair. Pendants, rings and bracelets also accompany a fine Pollera.