Weaver Sobeida Cabezon Membache

Wounaan Weaver | Maje, Darién, Panama

Born in the rainforest village of Maje in 1984, Sobeida Cabezon Membache is known for her incredibly intricate black-and-white geometric baskets. Her designs aren’t bold in scale, but quiet and complex—made with tiny, consistent stitches that come together like woven pointillism. The effect is both technical and deeply visual, revealing layers of symmetry in the smallest of forms.

Sobeida comes from a large, traditional Wounaan family. Her parents migrated from Colombia to Panama, raising nine children in the forest—seven daughters and two sons. Four of the daughters, including Sobeida, became weavers. She began at age 10, learning geometric motifs from the start. Her first basket sold for $5—and she’s been weaving ever since.

While she only completed school through the sixth grade, as is common in rural villages, Sobeida now uses her weaving income to support the education of her four children. Her husband is also an artisan, working in wood and fishing, while she continues to develop her signature style. Sobeida prefers the pace of village life and often works alongside her father, who gathers the palm she dyes and weaves herself—always in her own colors, always with care.