What Stopped Me Was a Man on a Toilet

by Arnaud | Apr 28, 2026 | Culture

5 min read

What Stopped Me Was a Man on a Toilet

Not something you expect to say in the middle of REX, but there it was.

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Unapologetic in burgundy, with his private parts neatly covered by a flower. And somewhere in that same world, a book titled How to Be Rich, which he’s reading… while sitting there.

You have to respect that level of confidence.

Summation doesn’t try too hard. It just gets it right. The humour is slightly inappropriate, slightly uncomfortable, and exactly where it needs to be. You laugh first, and then you realise how well everything is actually put together.

The colours are great. The compositions are clean. Nothing feels off. And that’s rare, because work like this often leans too far into chaos. This doesn’t. It’s controlled, considered, and very deliberate.

The text underneath the man on the toilet : To a Better Year. I love the dry humour.

What I like even more, once you look past the first laugh, is that this isn’t random. It’s part of something bigger. Summation sits alongside their sister brand Summorie, where they make notebooks, paper goods, and everyday objects with the same level of care. It’s not just humour for the sake of it. It’s design thinking, applied to everything, even the smallest piece.

Every book is hand-stitched. Clean, precise, no cutting corners. And somehow still affordable, which makes it even better, because usually this kind of detail comes with a heavy price tag.

The space reflects that mindset. Not just books on a shelf, but a mix of studio, indie publishing, and a bit of café energy. It’s not polished in the traditional sense, but it feels alive, and that’s the point.

They’re still at REXKL for now, but not for long.

So if this speaks to you, don’t wait. It’s not trying to please everyone. And that’s exactly why it does.

If Your Landlord Increases Your Rent, Do This

by Arnaud | Apr 27, 2026 | Food

5 min read

If Your Landlord Increases Your Rent, Do This

I’m on keto.
Or at least, that’s what I tell myself until something like this shows up and all discipline quietly exits the room.

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The fish and chips here is worth breaking every rule for. Not in a dramatic way, just in a very clear, very certain way. You sit down, you order it, and you don’t negotiate with yourself.

I first had Battered at a Chinese New Year open house at Lightcraft, thanks to Shireen, who always seems to know where the good stuff is. The owner was there himself, quietly frying, no theatrics, just focus. And it shows.

This is comfort food in its purest form. The kind you need when your landlord decides to increase your rent, when people you’ve invested in suddenly resign, or when you realise you’re not always as right as you thought you were. It doesn’t solve anything, but it does make everything feel manageable again.

The batter is light, crisp, and not oily. Exactly what you want, nothing extra. The set is around RM32.

Now, REXKL. Not my favourite place to sit. It’s loud, slightly chaotic, and not particularly comfortable. But I’ll forgive all of that, because this is best eaten on the spot. Some food needs to travel, this one doesn’t.

There’s also a sambal prawn sandwich I haven’t tried yet, but will. And then deep fried Mars and Snickers, which is either a terrible idea or a very good one. I’ll find out.

Go when your day needs adjusting. Or when you do.

There’s a golden ticket in this.

by Arnaud | Apr 25, 2026 | Design

5 min read

There's a golden ticket in this.

The Mystery Box is back.

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And this time, it’s actually worth the risk. Every box comes with a voucher. Each store will have one RM100, one RM50, and one RM20 floating around, so there’s already something in it for you.

But that’s not the point.

The point is the tickets.

Somewhere in these boxes, there’s a Golden Ticket. If you find it, you get one full year of 10% off your bill. Not once. Not capped. A full year. Which, depending on how often you “just drop by,” is either a very good idea or a very dangerous one.

Then there’s the Silver Ticket. You can exchange your bag for any other design in the store. One exchange, per store. So if you don’t love what you get, you’re not stuck with it.

And then the Bronze Ticket. You walk in and choose any other bag in the store. No questions, no swapping logic. Just pick the one you want.

So yes, it’s a mystery. You don’t know the colour, you don’t know the outcome, and that’s exactly the point.

Some people will try to calculate their chances. Others will just open the box and see what happens.

You already know which one you are.

Launching in all stores this Saturday

From Truth or Dare to an Art Trip

by Arnaud | Apr 24, 2026 | Travel

5 min read

From Truth or Dare to an Art Trip

About a month ago, when I launched the exhibition Herbs Malaya, something felt slightly off. It was all there, but my team wasn’t. And I realised again how important it is to experience things together, not just build them.

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This wasn’t our first trip. The last one was a jungle weekend that somehow turned into Truth or Dare. This time, it was Penang and art. Same intention, different setting.

So I invited the whole HQ team and our store managers to Penang for two nights.

We took the train up, first class. Proper seats, proper meal, a bit indulgent (best nasi lemak), but also very easy. No stress, no rushing, just arriving together.

The first day we walked. Penang allows for that. It feels like moving through layers of history without needing a guide. We stopped by Cultprint and spent time at the Pinang Peranakan Mansion. That part was important. Peranakan culture sits at the root of Nala, so seeing it as a team, in real life, not on a moodboard, changes how you understand it.

And then we ate. Nasi kandar, fried kway teow, everything you would expect. Penang doesn’t really allow you to hold back, and no one tried.

The next morning started with roti canai, and then pottery. All of us on the wheel. Slight hesitation at first, then complete focus. What stood out was the quiet. No one had done it before, but everyone was fully in it. We’ll get the pieces in a couple of months. Not everything needs to be immediate.

That evening, the team joined the exhibition. They saw how it comes together, what happens behind it, how people move through it.

We stayed on Armenian Street.

We don’t do ordinary

by Arnaud | Apr 24, 2026 | Design

5 min read

We don't do ordinary

Not all stories are ordinary, and that is exactly the point.

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This month, we share a collaboration that is close to our hearts. Between NALA and Adam’s family. A father’s journey shaped by patience, love, and growth, and Adam, who quietly changes everything.

His story is a reminder that difference is not something to fix. It is something to understand, to respect, and to make space for.

The ginkgo leaf became our symbol for this collection. Known for its resilience and quiet strength, no two leaves are ever the same. Each one carries its own imperfections, and that is exactly where its beauty lies.

From this came the We Don’t Do Ordinary Imperfection Ginkgo Collection. Silk screen printed T-shirts and canvas tote bags made from 100 percent cotton. Simple pieces, designed with meaning.

And now, all pieces from the Autism Collection are officially available in all NALA stores, as well as online.

Part of the proceeds will go to NASOM, supporting individuals and families living with autism.

The first 200 online purchases will also receive a hand-signed card by Adam. Each one signed by him, individually.It took time, focus, and real effort, and that is exactly why it matters.

T-shirts are RM99

Tote bags RM88

In our universe, we do not do ordinary.