Verba Volent, Scripta Manent

by Arnaud | Jan 20, 2026 | Culture

5 min read

Verba Volent, Scripta Manent

I received the most beautiful book from E-lene called The Velocity of Being. It is a collection of letters to a young reader, edited by Maria Popova and Claudia Zoe Petric, and written by an extraordinary group of thinkers, artists, musicians, writers, and scientists.

LISETTE

SHARE

Contributors include names such as Yo Yo Ma, Naomi Wolf, Nick Cave, Helen Macdonald, Elizabeth Gilbert, and many others. Each letter feels intimate and generous. They write about creativity, doubt, courage, curiosity, kindness, failure, and the quiet urgency of becoming yourself. There is wisdom here, but it is never loud or preachy.

Each letter is paired with an illustration by a different artist, which makes the book a visual treasure in its own right. The techniques, styles, and moods vary widely, yet they sit together beautifully. Some illustrations are delicate, others bold or playful, others deeply poetic. It feels like leafing through a small exhibition, where words and images speak to each other and invite you to slow down.

What makes this book even more meaningful is that all proceeds are donated to the New York Public Library system. Libraries are described as bastions of democracy and oxygen for the life of the mind, and that belief quietly underpins the entire project. In a time when depth feels increasingly rare, this gesture feels both powerful and necessary.

Inspired by this book and by conversations with E-lene, we have made a decision. I will hold an exhibition of my art on the 15th of November next year, on her birthday. It feels like the right way to honour friendship, generosity, creativity, and the belief that art, like libraries, exists to be shared.

From Iris to Ixora

by Arnaud | Jan 19, 2026 | Design

5 min read

From Iris to Ixora

Our upcoming Raya collection marks an important step for Nala.

LISETTE

SHARE

This is handmade batik at its best. A beautiful, time honoured technique that takes time, skill, and care. It is more expensive, yes, but it is worth it. These are pieces that will last you a lifetime, not something that fades after a few washes.

The prints are inspired by stories close to us. The Japanese iris, the Malaysian ixora, passion fruit, the familiar plastic chair, and my family crest, all reimagined through batik in a way that feels modern, personal, and rooted.

Every piece is made from 100 percent cotton. Comfortable, breathable, and truly wearable. The collection is simple and intentional. Baju kurung, sarongs, men’s shirts, and kebayas. Essentials you can wear for Raya and far beyond.

This collection reflects what we believe in. Designing locally. Printing locally. Manufacturing locally. Supporting cottage industries and real craftsmanship instead of mass produced, throwaway fashion.

This is the direction we believe in. Buy less, choose better, and wear it again and again.

This is how we move forward.
This is how we make our universe beautiful.

Launching soon. Stay tuned.

Lisette Goes Social

by Arnaud | Jan 18, 2026 | Food

5 min read

Lisette Goes Social

I recently popped by Lisette’s at 163 Mall in Mont Kiara, and it was quietly emotional in the best possible way. Walking in and seeing my pillowcases everywhere, the beautiful tiles on the floor, and familiar details woven into a place that has taken on a life of its own felt incredibly special.

LISETTE

SHARE

Lisette’s is named after me, and even though it is no longer my restaurant, the name has somehow become part of everyday life. That in itself is fascinating. A name turning into a household name. I am still very close to the family behind it, and it remains a space that is deeply close to my heart.

The logo was made a long time ago, drawn entirely by hand by me, and I still love it. It is a quiet reminder that when you pour real love and energy into a design, it has a way of lasting. The same goes for the tiles. Designed years ago, they are still beautiful today, timeless rather than dated. They were also the starting point of our very first print, Willow Wishes, which makes seeing them now even more meaningful.

We will be working together again in the future. But for now, if you love Nala, Lisette’s in 163 is very much the place to go. And for those who know, I am vegetarian with a dash of fish once in a while. The big vegan breakfast is still as good as ever.

A Very Practical Experiment

by Arnaud | Jan 17, 2026 | Design

5 min read

A Very Practical Experiment

This week’s Object of Desire began as an experiment rather than a plan.

LISETTE

SHARE

I created a series of paintings for Boutique Fairs Singapore, and the response took me by surprise. Many people wanted to buy them, but I found myself unable to let go. That felt slightly impractical, so this became the compromise. Instead of selling the paintings, we printed them onto skirts.

This is only possible because of how much textile printing has evolved over the years. We started with silkscreen, moved to rotary printing, and eventually arrived at digital printing, which began entering fashion in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Digital printing allows artwork to be transferred as it is, without flattening or simplifying it.

This is the first time I have done this, and it felt like a natural step rather than a grand statement. The dandelion painting that leads this story was simply too nice to leave behind.

The result is a small run of skirts and dressed that sit somewhere between art and clothing. Easy to wear, slightly unexpected, and very hard to categorise.

These pieces are available at Tanglin Mall in Singapore, TANGS Singapore, our Bangsar Village shop, Penang, The Campus, our Kasturi store, and online.

A Coupon So Pretty You’ll Struggle to Spend It

by Arnaud | Jan 13, 2026 | Taste

5 min read

A Coupon So Pretty You’ll Struggle to Spend It

At Nala, we believe beauty should live everywhere. Even in something as simple as a cash voucher.

So we designed one that’s as stunning as ever.

LISETTE

SHARE

Not a throwaway coupon, not a flimsy slip of paper, but a beautifully illustrated cash voucher you will love receiving, love using, and very possibly want to keep. Because why should something functional not also be beautiful.

From this Saturday onwards, our new Nala Cash Vouchers will be available in all stores in Malaysia and Singapore.

There are three voucher values:

Malaysia :
Spend rm150 and above and receive a rm10 voucher
Spend rm250 and above and receive a rm20 voucher
Spend rm500 and above and receive a rm50 voucher

Singapore:
Spend $50and above and receive a $5 voucher
Spend $100and above and receive a $10 voucher
Spend $200and above and receive a $20 voucher

Each voucher is valid for one month from the date of issue.

The paintings began exactly one year ago. Each vase holds flowers with meaning. The chrysanthemum for long life and devotion, the dandelion for resilient women, the yellow saraka for joy, the heaven lotus for purity, the magnolia for quiet strength, and more still waiting in my studio. They began simply as paintings, but one year later they have found their place.

Instead of photographing the artworks, we translated them into layered illustrations so the colours could be separated, chosen and silkscreened. It means the skirt carries the soul of a painting and the precision of a print. A long process, an experiment, and something I am genuinely proud of. You will see a picture of me with the originals.

The production is very limited and each skirt carries its own quiet story. And for those who love the paintings but prefer not to wear them, we created a small number of limited edition prints, available in all our stores.