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.

During COVID, I had to renew my Malaysian driving licence, and my instructor was Suzana. Since I’d already been driving for years, the lessons were really just an excuse for us to chat. While I was supposedly “learning” to drive, Suzana was scrolling through my Instagram, looking at all my latest Nala patterns and happily telling me which ones she liked, which ones she didn’t, and which colours she thought worked best. Somewhere along the way, my driving instructor unexpectedly became my design consultant.

When it came time to finalise my second Tudung collection, Suzana even brought a few of her fellow driving instructors to our office. They spent the afternoon looking through every design, feeling the fabrics and discussing the colours. I trusted their instincts completely, and every single design they approved became part of the final collection. It might sound unusual, but I’ve always believed that good design should resonate with real people, and that’s exactly what happened.

Not long afterwards, we urgently needed someone for a photoshoot. Suzana had once mentioned that she had a daughter, so I gave her a call and asked if Aliya might be available. Less than half an hour later, Aliya walked into our Kasturi store, and that was the first time I met my muse.

What I love most about Aliya is that she’s simply herself. She has a natural beauty that never tries too hard. She looks just as wonderful without makeup as she does with it, and somehow every collection feels at home on her. Whether she’s wearing our Chinese New Year collection, a Raya outfit, one of our T-shirts or now Aloha Kita, she wears every piece with quiet confidence, pride and humility. She never overshadows the collection. She brings it to life.

Today she’s part of the Nala family, she’s studying marketing, and we’re all looking forward to welcoming her back once she graduates. Some people become the face of a brand. Aliya became part of its heart.

Sometimes the universe has a far better plan than we could ever imagine. Mine just happened to begin with a driving lesson.

You don’t need a house full of designer furniture to create a beautiful space. Sometimes, all it takes is one special piece. Mix it with vintage finds, family heirlooms, or even your favourite IKEA furniture, and suddenly the whole room comes to life.

That’s exactly how we love to decorate. Old and new. Colour and simplicity. Pieces with a story.

Each Nala chair, stool, and bench is handmade in Malaysia by Mr. Soo and upholstered in fabrics from our archive, making every piece completely unique.

While you’re there, you’ll also find our latest T shirts, with the Aloha collection arriving soon.

Come and visit Nala Bangsar Village and discover how one beautiful piece can transform your home.

I checked into a beautifully restored house, turned off my phone, ignored my emails, and disappeared offline for two days. For someone running a business, that is probably the equivalent of a silent meditation retreat. Armed with a sketchbook and an unhealthy level of curiosity, I spent my time wandering around the hill drawing flowers.

What began as a few sketches quickly turned into a full-blown investigation. Every plant I drew sent me down another rabbit hole. Where did it come from? How did it end up on Penang Hill? Was it native? Was it medicinal? Did it have any symbolism attached to it?

The first flower I became obsessed with was the Bleeding Heart Vine. Originally from tropical West Africa, it somehow found its way across the world and now grows happily in Southeast Asia. Its name comes from the flower itself. The outer bracts form the shape of a heart, while the bright red petals emerge from the centre like a drop of blood. Once you see it, you cannot unsee it.

The plant is often associated with love, compassion, and emotional connection, which feels fitting given its appearance. Traditionally, various species of Clerodendrum have also been used in folk medicine to treat inflammation and minor ailments. Whether or not it works, I was fascinated before I even got to the medicinal properties. It was too strange and too beautiful not to draw.

The second flower was the Canna Lily, and unlike the Bleeding Heart Vine, the Canna Lily does not believe in subtlety. Native to tropical America, it travelled across continents and eventually settled comfortably into tropical landscapes throughout Asia. Its enormous leaves and dramatic flowers look as though nature decided to turn the volume all the way up.

The Canna Lily is often associated with confidence, vitality, creativity, and resilience. Its rhizomes have historically been used as a source of starch and in traditional medicine, while the plant itself seems capable of thriving almost anywhere.

My favourite discovery, however, was the Needlewood Tree (Schima wallichii).

Unlike the other plants in this collection, this one truly belongs here. Native to Penang Hill and much of Southeast Asia, it has been part of these forests for centuries.

Its flowers are delicate and understated, with white petals surrounding a cluster of golden stamens. They are easy to miss if you are not paying attention.

Traditionally, parts of the tree have been used to treat fevers and inflammation, while its timber is valued for its strength and durability. Symbolically, the tree represents endurance, resilience, and quiet strength. If there is a plant in this collection that captures the spirit of Penang Hill itself, this is probably it.

The final motif was not a flower at all, but the palm trees that framed almost every view. Their silhouettes appeared repeatedly in my sketchbooks, often without me even realising it. Palm trees have long symbolised abundance, hospitality, freedom, and tropical life. More than anything, they became the backdrop against which all the other botanical stories unfolded.

What fascinated me was not the flowers themselves, but their journeys. Some travelled from Africa. Some came from the Americas. Some have been part of Penang’s landscape for centuries. Together, they tell a story about migration, adaptation, and survival.

The drawings you see in Aloha by Nala began as sketches made during those two days on Penang Hill in February 2025. Over the following eighteen months, they slowly evolved into prints. Every flower, leaf, branch, wave, and palm frond was drawn by hand.

What I thought would be a short escape from work became a collection. More importantly, it reminded me that sometimes the best ideas are not found in trend reports or on Pinterest. Sometimes they are growing quietly beside a walking path, waiting for someone to stop, pay attention, and draw them.