Sara Ginguimia, Wounaan Weaver

Wounaan Weaver | Maje, Darién, Panama

Sara Ginguimia is a master Wounaan basket weaver from the rainforest village of Maje in the Darién of Panama. She began weaving at 14, guided by her older sister, who encouraged her to focus on finer stitching and to take pride in selling her work. From the beginning, Sara was drawn to detail—working with small-scale patterns in black and white before devoting herself fully to her signature design: the feather.

Over the years, Sara refined the feather motif into something entirely her own. Her baskets are known for their precision—tight, even stitches and elegant forms—and collectors often recognize her work by the clean geometry and intricate layouts of her feather pieces. She also weaves paw prints and other cultural designs but always returns to the feather, which she has spent years perfecting.

Sara gathers and dyes some of her own palm, but also trades for unique color tones with other weavers. Beyond her own work, she teaches basketry to others in the community, sharing both technique and tradition.

With her income from weaving, Sara has helped fund her children’s education and supported two of her sons in building homes of their own. She prefers the pace of the countryside, where she continues to raise her four children and create baskets that carry the clarity of a practiced hand and the strength of a mother’s care.