I stumbled upon Planted Journal by accident, drawn in by an extraordinary close-up of a moth. Zoomed in, its wings looked like feathers, soft and celestial, reminding me once again that the world we live in is nothing short of spectacular.

Planted Journal is both a website and an Instagram platform that explores the deep connection between humans and nature. Through poetic photography, thoughtful writing, and quiet reflections, it reminds us to slow down, observe, and return to the rhythm of the natural world. It is a space that celebrates plants, growth, and the unseen beauty that surrounds us, all created with such sincerity and purpose that you can feel the love behind every post.

Somewhere between screens and schedules, we have forgotten how much beauty surrounds us. We no longer lie in the grass, feel the sunlight on our face, breathe in the forest air, or listen to the quiet hum of a field. Here in Malaysia, we are blessed with jungles, beaches, and parks, yet most days we only see the world through the glow of a phone.

Imagine if we had more time to reconnect, a four-day work week, or even one day each month devoted to picnicking in a park, simply being part of nature again.

Until that dream becomes real, let’s take small steps. Start by visiting Planted Journal on Instagram or their website. Sign up for their newsletter. Their work is mind-blowingly beautiful, a quiet reminder of how much there still is to see, to feel, and to protect

For the second drop of Banal Deluxe, three new prints step into the spotlight. Each one takes its cue from the simplest of objects, things you might overlook in daily life but that carry so much character once you really see them.

There is the gayung, the small bucket with a handle found in almost every Malaysian household. It is still part of our lives today, whether for showering, cleaning floors or scooping water. Then there is the white pepper shaker, always present on the breakfast table with soft-boiled eggs. And finally, the soya sauce bottle, humble and essential, now transformed into something unexpectedly bold.

When enlarged on our Palladio Pants, the soya sauce print even resembles an African textile, proof that design has the power to shift perspectives. As Paul Smith once said, “inspiration is everywhere you look.” That is the truth. With an open mind, a love for design and joy in the work, patterns reveal themselves in even the most ordinary of things.

At NALA, we believe that beauty starts with intention. In a world where everything is fast and forgettable, we want to slow things down, to remind ourselves (and others) that how something is made matters just as much as what it looks like.

That’s why we still silkscreen.

It’s not just a printing method. It’s a lesson in colour, patience, and presence. When you silkscreen, you have to pay attention. Every colour is printed one at a time, with big silk screens that must be perfectly aligned by hand. There’s no shortcut. No “undo” button.

But here’s the fun part: we use transparent inks. So when yellow overlaps with blue, it creates green, not by adding another colour, but by layering two. If you look closely at the rabbit on this T-shirt, you’ll see that green is made from intention, not ink.

And that’s the point. When you understand silkscreen, you start to understand colour. When you understand colour, you begin to see the world differently.

This is our why. And this is how we make our universe beautiful, one rabbit at a time.

To truly understand what you’re drawing, you have to experience it. A field of wildflowers isn’t just a visual – it’s a feeling, a scent, a soundscape. You can’t capture its essence from a book or a screen. You have to stand in the middle of it, breathe it in, gather it yourself.

This week in our studio, we’re revealing how that raw experience becomes art. From a field bouquet to a final print, we’ll share the three-step transformation during next Thursday’s show.

It’s a reminder that the truest inspiration comes from the real thing.