“Picnic” comes from the French pique-nique, a word that appeared in the 17th century. Originally, it wasn’t about sitting on a blanket in a park at all. It described a meal where everyone contributed something to the table. Only later did the picnic move outdoors and become what we know today: food, friends, grass, sunshine and a few hours with nowhere particularly important to be.

Maybe that is still what is so great about picnicking. You take a blanket. You find a patch of grass, a beach, a tree with some shade. You bring something to eat, something to drink, a book, a friend, your children, your dog, or nobody at all.

And for a little while, that patch of ground becomes yours.

Which brings me to our picnic mats. They are back.

These have been a nala classic for years, but strangely enough, their story doesn’t begin with a picnic at all.

It begins with polo.
I used to play polo, and this particular type of mat comes from the polo world. Polo mallets are laid out beside the field so players can choose the mallet they need before getting onto their horses. The mat keeps everything together and, importantly, off the wet grass.

I came across these mats through polo and immediately loved how incredibly simple and practical they were. So we took the idea and made it ours.

Our mats are compact, practical and reversible, with a waterproof layer underneath, so damp grass is no longer your problem. And because this is nala, both sides are completely different.

Every print begins as a hand-drawn artwork, so depending on where you’re going, what you’re wearing or simply what mood you’re in, you can flip it over and have an entirely different mat. We have taken ours everywhere.

To the park. To the beach. On holidays. Thrown into the car for those moments when sitting on the ground suddenly seems like a very good idea.

Perhaps that is what is so great about picnicking.

You don’t really need very much. Something delicious. Somewhere beautiful. Someone you like. And a good mat.

Our picnic mats are making a comeback in a handful of prints and very limited quantities. They will not be available online.

You’ll have to come and find them in our stores.