Every Scrap Tells a Story

by Arnaud | Jul 18, 2026 | Taste

5 min read

Every Scrap Tells a Story

I was raised in a family where making things with your hands was simply part of life.
My mother and grandmothers taught me to sew, knit, crochet and embroider.
They taught me how to mend things instead of throwing them away, and how to take pride in making something well.

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I still remember sitting my final secondary school exams with my knitting in my bag. Whenever we had a break between papers, I’d quietly knit a few more rows. Looking back, I can’t help but smile. Where did those days go?

Perhaps that’s one of the reasons I’ve always felt drawn to Japanese craftsmanship. There is such a deep respect for taking your time, for mastering a skill, and for creating objects that are meant to be cherished rather than replaced. In a world that celebrates speed and convenience, there is something wonderfully rebellious about choosing to make something by hand.

We’ve had the pleasure of working with Tomoko from Cocomahalo Fabric Garden for many years, and every piece she creates reflects that philosophy. Nothing is rushed. Every stitch is careful. Every offcut of fabric is given a second life.

This season, Tomoko has transformed carefully saved fabric remnants into the most beautiful placemats and coasters. What others might see as scraps become elegant pieces that bring warmth and character to a table. It is a quiet reminder that beauty often begins with care, patience and imagination.

Each piece is lovingly hand sewn, one by one, so only a small number are available. You’ll find them exclusively at our Kasturi store. I hope you’ll take a moment to look closely, because in every stitch you’ll find the kind of craftsmanship that deserves to be celebrated and preserved.

It’s always a joy collaborating with Tomoko, and I hope we’ll continue creating together for many years to come.

Patience. It’s Coming.

by Arnaud | Jul 18, 2026 | Design

5 min read

Patience. It’s Coming.

We’ve had so many messages asking, “When can we buy the new Pasar Nala collection?”
The answer is: very, very soon.

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The photos may already be online, but the collection is literally travelling with me to Singapore. Give me until Saturday to unpack everything, dress our booth and put the finishing touches in place. Good things are worth waiting for.

This weekend marks the beginning of something very special for us as we launch the very first Pasar Nala at the Singapore Retail Festival.

For us, this isn’t simply another market. It’s a return to where every great brand begins: meeting people face to face, listening to stories, testing ideas, and sharing the joy of beautiful design. Before there were flagship stores, there were markets. Before there were shopping centres, there were conversations across market stalls. That’s the spirit we want to bring back.

You’ll also be among the very first to see our brand new Pasar Nala identity. Every detail has been carefully considered, from the logo to our brand new uniforms, which I’m incredibly proud of. They’re more than uniforms. They represent a new chapter for Pasar Nala, a collection designed especially for our markets, celebrating craftsmanship, colour and the everyday beauty of life in Southeast Asia.

Although created as our team’s market uniform, we’ve had so many people asking about it that we’ve decided to make it available to order in limited quantities as well. You’ll be able to see it in person from Saturday onwards.

Most importantly, I’d love to meet you.

I’ll be at the Singapore Retail Festival on Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday, so if you’re in town, please come by our booth, say hello, and have a chat. One of my favourite parts of designing isn’t sitting behind a drawing board. It’s hearing your stories, learning what you love, and watching our creations become part of your everyday life.

This is only the beginning of Pasar Nala, and I couldn’t think of a better place to start than Singapore.

See you at the market.

Vol.19 ハワイを着る。新作制作にかける想い。

by Arnaud | Jul 10, 2026 | Unagi Club

5 min read

Vol.19 ハワイを着る。新作制作にかける想い。

Nalaの最新コレクション、ハワイアンシリーズの『Aloha』はもうチェックされましたか？

リセッテが一年という構想期間を経て生まれたこのAlohaシリーズは、ハワイではなくペナンで誕生しました。

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マレーシア、ペナンヒルにある五つ星ホテル、イースタン&オリエンタルホテル（以下 E&Oホテル）は、1885年創業のペナン最古となる伝統あるコロニアルホテルであり、リセッテもお気に入りの場所です。

1972年にペナン島に来て以来、ペナンに来る時には滞在してきました。今回のコレクションはリセッテが一年前にこのホテルに滞在した時に着想を得て生まれたものです。

彼女が選んだモチーフは、カンナユリ、滝、椰子の木、波、竹などペナン島の中に見出した夢の島を象徴するもの。

カンナユリの花言葉は情熱、快活、永遠。ペナンビーチの開放感にぴったりの花がふんだんにあしらわれています。

竹も波も椰子の木も全て彼女がペナン滞在中に魅了されスケッチしたもの。

メンズのシャツもそれぞれウィメンズのドレスやスカート同パターンで作られており、パートナーとリゾート地で楽しく着られるアイディアが詰まっています。

また今回は沢山のリクエストを頂いてソリッドシリーズも同時にローンチしました。Nalaといえば柄をイメージする方が多いかと思われますが、パターンのない無地のソリッドシリーズも好評です。

ソリッドシリーズの最大の特徴は美しい切り替えや縫製。他のブランドとは一線を画した洗練されたフォルムは華やかなパターンの服との相性も抜群です。

そして従来の白黒に加えて新色のバーガンディも仲間入り。よりバリエーション豊富なマッチングを楽しんでいただけます。

リセッテが今回のコレクションで伝えたいメッセージ。

それはハワイに行かずとも、美しい木々や花、豊かに広がる澄んだ青空、夕暮れには美しいグラデーションを見せる夕焼け、素敵なホテルたち、壮大な滝や海がペナンにはある。

目の前にある美しさを過小評価せずに改めてマレーシアの島々想いを馳せ慈しむこと。

リセッテとNalaの新たな挑戦の始まりです。

Sila Duduk. We’ll Save You a Seat.

by Arnaud | Jul 10, 2026 | Culture

5 min read

Sila Duduk. We’ll Save You a Seat.

Some illustrations have a way of finding their own place in the world. Our little red chair was one of them.

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Inspired by the humble plastic chair found outside kopitiams, neighbourhood cafés and homes across Malaysia, it celebrates the simple joy of slowing down, sharing stories and making time for one another. It’s an everyday icon that feels unmistakably Malaysian.

We loved it so much that we couldn’t stop at one product. So, of course, it found its way onto a canvas bag too. Practical, cheerful and designed to go wherever you do, it’s the perfect reminder to pause once in a while because there’s always time to sila duduk.

Available now at all Nala stores.

Bubala Walhalla

by Arnaud | Jul 10, 2026 | Food

5 min read

Bubala Walhalla

I have a slight obsession with beautiful cookbooks, and this one was my favourite find from Holland.

LISETTE

Actually… I found it in Dille & Kamille while spending the day wandering around the beautiful city of Delft. It’s one of those shops I can happily lose myself in for hours, and this time I walked out with Bubala by Marc Summers, published in Dutch by Good Cook.

The moment I started turning the pages, I knew this book was coming home with me.

The first recipe that caught my eye was the cauliflower steak, followed by January King cabbage with shiitake, Jerusalem artichokes, sweet potatoes with tahini, burnt butter hummus, and page after page of recipes that completely changed the way I look at vegetables.

What I love most is that this isn’t a cookbook trying to make vegetables taste like meat. It’s a celebration of vegetables in all their glory. Every page reminds you just how endless the possibilities are when you start with fresh, seasonal ingredients and a little imagination.

I haven’t cooked from it yet, but I already know it’s going to become one of those books that’s permanently open on my kitchen counter. If you ever come across Bubala, do yourself a favour and pick it up. I have a feeling it’s going to inspire me for years to come.

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