Polleras made by "Paisa"

ed. Polleras are the national dress of Panama. Paisa is a nick name for Colombian women.

Polleras hecho de Paisa

by Evidelia Velásquez

Polleras for all tastes. Soon the carnivals etc. will come and many ladies want to use the beautiful traditional dress or the mothers want to dress their daughters in them.

Don’t worry if you have yet to find one. You will find everything at the business of Sra. Evelina Freyte, which is signed “Polleras” and is located in front of the church of San José in San Felipe.

Evelinas says that she learn this profession 35 years ago, because she liked it and thought it something different with ingenuity and creativity as the prime ingredients.

Besides polleras, Evelina also makes hats with molas, fashion jewelry and all classes of souvenirs, as her best clients are the tourists who visit the area.

Evelina, who is more than 50 years old is of Colombian decent, but has lived in pur country all her life, during which she has learnt to love our culture and to base her future on this. From this moment she started the task of sewing all classes of local articles including the polleras.

Most of her clients are involved with folklore, so when they make an order it is for at least 14 to 15 polleras a time, but Evelina says that if a client wants one pollera she makes it to the size the client orders for girls from one year and up.

En Evelina’s business you can also find bags made out of molas, t-shirts, slippers of any color, typical wrist bands from Panama and the traditional mens wear. She says when you their is the willing to live well, you learn your trade and perfect it.

Evelina considers herself an example of perseverance and dedication.

Costs

Evelina’s Polleras can cost between US$250 and US$350.