Bad Photographs, Amazing Dinner

by Arnaud | Jun 20, 2026 | Food

5 min read

Bad Photographs, Amazing Dinner

Some restaurants are so good that they completely ruin your intentions.

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I had every plan of taking beautiful photographs at MADRE in Amsterdam for this newsletter, but somewhere between the table side guacamole and the artichoke tacos, I simply forgot. The food demanded my full attention. Spending the evening there with my daughter made it even more special.

Tucked away in Amsterdam’s Jordaan district, MADRE is a modern Mexican restaurant with one small detail: everything is 100% plant based. They don’t make a big fuss about it. There are no lectures, no compromises and certainly no feeling that you’re missing out. The restaurant simply serves beautiful food that happens to be vegan.

Dinner was one surprise after another. Fresh guacamole prepared for us at the table. Fried cauliflower with an unexpected white chocolate sauce that somehow worked perfectly. Artichoke tacos packed with flavour. And then came the 3D printed vegan “pork” tacos, a dish that sounds completely impossible until you taste it and realise that the future of food might actually be delicious.

What impressed me most wasn’t the technology or the fact that everything was vegan. It was the confidence. MADRE doesn’t try to imitate anything. It simply creates exciting, colourful food that makes you forget you’re eating plant based.

Over dinner, my daughter and I kept wondering whether a restaurant like this could work in Malaysia. I’m not entirely convinced the market is ready, but I would love to be proven wrong. A place where beautiful interiors, inventive food and good conversation come together without taking themselves too seriously. It feels very much like my dream restaurant.

I left with a camera roll full of terrible photographs, a very happy stomach and a lovely evening with my daughter. Come to think of it, that’s probably the best review a restaurant could hope for.

Late Father’s Day Present

by Arnaud | Jun 20, 2026 | Design

5 min read

Late Father’s Day Present

Who says Father’s Day has to be celebrated on just one day? In fact, the best presents are often the unexpected ones.

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If you forgot, don’t panic. We’ve got you covered. Our NALA caps are just RM50 in Malaysia and make the perfect gift for the dad who appreciates a bit of style. Better yet, pair one with one of our brand new hand printed T shirts, fresh in store this weekend, for an effortlessly cool combination.

something he’ll actually use and enjoy. No novelty socks, no last minute supermarket chocolates, just thoughtful gifts with a bit of personality.

After all, dads deserve to be celebrated all year round. Better late than never.

Art Belongs Everywhere

by Arnaud | Jun 20, 2026 | Culture

5 min read

Art Belongs Everywhere

I’ve always believed that art shouldn’t be reserved for museums or galleries. It should live with us. On our walls, in our hallways, above our desks and even on the front of a cupboard that could do with a bit of personality.

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Over the past few months, we’ve been printing some of our favourite NALA archive designs as art prints, and seeing them come to life has been incredibly rewarding. Old patterns, forgotten sketches and much loved illustrations have found a new home, not on fabric, but on paper.

Our new visual merchandiser, Hakim, has taken this idea and run with it. He has transformed our stores by treating them like little galleries, mixing fashion, homewares and art in a way that makes you realise a beautiful print can completely change a space. A wall that was empty suddenly has a story to tell.

The best part? You don’t need a major renovation or a big budget to refresh your home. One colourful print can brighten a corner, fill an awkward space or simply make you smile every time you walk past it.

Have a look the next time you’re in one of our stores. All of our archive art prints are available across our locations, and who knows, you might just find the missing piece for your home.

No Rumours. We’re Really Leaving.

by Arnaud | Jun 20, 2026 | Events, Taste

5 min read

No Rumours. We’re Really Leaving.

When landlord collaborations are not meant to be.
Well, it’s official. Kasturi is really, really closing.

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For a while, I genuinely thought we could save it. Not by fighting, but by collaborating. The idea was simple: work together with the temple, bring in partners, create a destination that would benefit everyone and give this iconic corner of the street a new lease of life. We were ready. We had ideas, energy and even potential collaborators lined up.

Sadly, it wasn’t meant to be.
The reality is that sometimes people see potential, and sometimes they simply see square footage and rental income. A tenant willing to pay more came along, and our story at Kasturi came to an end. It’s disappointing, especially because I truly believe we could have created something magical together.

The surprising part was what happened next. Our Instagram call for collaborators was met with an overwhelming response. Restaurants, retailers and creative entrepreneurs reached out with ideas and encouragement. We even found a partner, Kopi Hut, that I think would have made an incredible addition to the space. I would have loved to see that collaboration come to life. Perhaps in another place and another time.

Kasturi has become more than just a shop. It’s part of the neighbourhood. A place where people discovered NALA, found unexpected treasures, had coffee, attended events and became part of our community. Seeing it go is bittersweet.

But there’s one thing I’ve learned as an entrepreneur. Sometimes you don’t get to choose the ending. You only get to choose how you leave.

So we’re leaving with colour, optimism and one final celebration. Our sale continues until the 28th, and we’re clearing fashion, homewares, furniture and some of the pieces that have made Kasturi so memorable. If you’ve been meaning to visit, this is your chance.

Come and wander through the space one last time. Shop your heart out, take home a piece of NALA history and help us give Kasturi the farewell it deserves.

Some collaborations are meant to happen. Others simply aren’t. Onwards and upwards.

Guerrilla Marketing in Singapore (And Why It Works)

by Arnaud | Jun 20, 2026 | Events, Travel

5 min read

Guerrilla Marketing in Singapore (And Why It Works)

Singapore isn’t exactly famous for breaking the rules. Which is precisely why we decided to do it.

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To kick off our BYE BUY Sale at Tanglin, we gave our team a slightly unusual assignment. Instead of waiting for customers to find us, we went out to find them. We dressed up the bus stop outside the shop with our colourful pillows, handed out flyers and turned an ordinary commute into something a little more joyful. We kept going until the security guards politely informed us that perhaps this wasn’t entirely according to plan.

It was brilliant.

The team wasn’t quite used to this way of thinking. At first there was a bit of hesitation, but once they saw people smiling, stopping and asking questions, they got into the spirit of it. The result? Our pillows sold out within days. Sadly, our little bus stop installation has retired, so we’ll have to come up with new ideas for the rest of the sale.

It’s a good reminder that sometimes the best marketing isn’t the biggest campaign or the most expensive advertisement. Sometimes it’s simply doing something unexpected. Breaking the norm, starting a conversation and making people smile.

Our BYE BUY Sale at Tanglin continues until the 28th, and there are still plenty of treasures to discover. Leather bags are 20% off when you buy two, T shirts are two for $50, scarves, garments and art pieces have bundle discounts, and there are special promotions across homewares and estate pieces.

Tanglin may be saying goodbye, but we’re determined to make sure it goes out with a bang. And who knows? We might just bend a few more rules before the doors close for good.