And yes, before everyone says it, of course it looks like Aesop. It absolutely does. But honestly, it’s well done. The scents are fantastic, the prices are super reasonable, the staff knows what they’re talking about, and at the end of the day, that matters too.

I bought an almond soap that smells incredible and a hibiscus perfume for myself that I’ve been wearing ever since.

What I really loved is that Penang completely understands this kind of thing. Good taste. Good cafés. Good branding. Beautiful little stores hidden at the end of streets you would normally walk past. And the interesting part is that they took the risk to be slightly tucked away, yet every single time I walked in, the place was full.

That says a lot.

There’s clearly an audience for thoughtful retail experiences that are beautifully designed and accessible at the same time.

That said, I would personally love to see even more soul in the space. A little more warmth. A little more colour. Something slightly less restrained and slightly more alive.

Which is exactly why I think a collaboration between NALA and Overthink could actually be really interesting.Fragrance meets pattern. Minimalism meets maximalism. Clean architecture meets flowers and storytelling.

Actually… that sounds kind of perfect.

An American who arrived in Milan as a journalist, writing for publications and observing the city from the outside, she slowly found her way into it. Not by forcing it, but by paying attention. To the way women dressed, to the way homes were put together, to the colours, the layering, the confidence that Milan carries so effortlessly. Her book, Mama Milano, is exactly that. A personal, visual story of the city through her eyes. It moves between fashion, interiors, people, and moments, capturing a Milan that is not obvious, but lived in. You feel that she didn’t just visit the city, she absorbed it.

What I find most inspiring is that she didn’t start out as a designer. She built her world from instinct. From what she loved. From what she saw was missing. And at some point, that turned into something tangible, a brand, a store, a point of view that people now recognise. Her shop in Milan is a reflection of that. Strong, confident, unapologetically full of pattern and colour. It doesn’t try to please everyone. It simply is what it is.
And that is what makes it powerful.

There is also something else that runs through her work, something quieter. A belief in energy, in timing, in being in the right place at the right moment, but also being ready for it. Yoga, spirituality, a certain awareness that what we build is not just business, but something more personal. I relate to that.
Because sometimes, when you are building something, it feels like you are chasing a place, a moment, a version of your life that hasn’t fully formed yet.

I remember going to her shop in Milan, picking up Mama Milano, and thinking how beautifully everything came together. How natural it all seemed, even though you know it must have taken years.
And I have to admit, every time I’m in Milan, I look for her.
Just in case. Because I do believe that one day, paths cross when they are meant to.

Until then, it’s enough to be inspired by someone who followed her instinct, trusted her timing, and built something that feels entirely her own.

Demand’s work exists between sculpture and photography. What appears to be everyday scenes are, in fact, meticulously constructed paper models, rebuilt by hand and then photographed. The result is subtle and disorienting. Familiar, yet never fully revealing itself.

There is a beautiful tension in the images. At first, you accept them as real. Then something shifts. The photograph seems to look back at you. It makes you question what it means when something “catches your eye.” Are you seeing it, or is it seeing you?

What stays with me most is the simplicity. Fragments, objects, small moments. Nothing grand, yet everything considered. It is a reminder that beauty does not need to be complex. It needs attention.

This is where it resonates deeply with NALA. The belief that the everyday holds enough beauty, if we choose to see it. That through composition, color, and intention, even the simplest things can become meaningful. We make our universe beautiful not through excess, but through awareness.

The book itself is almost entirely without text. Just images. It asks you to slow down, to look, to feel. In a world that moves too fast, this feels rare.

I have not been back to Milan for two years, and writing this reminds me how much I miss it. It remains one of the most inspiring cities in the world to me. A place where beauty is simply part of life. I look forward to returning, to wandering through its bookstores again, and discovering more like this.

Dailies is not just a book. It is a quiet reminder to pay attention.

And sometimes, that is enough.

We’ve just launched new flower posters, and with any purchase, you’ll receive one for free. There are two versions, both simple, beautiful, and easy to live with. Think of it as affordable art.

We spend so much money on wrapping paper, only to crumple it up, cover it in tape, and throw it away within seconds. The truth is, the cost of printing something disposable is no different from printing something worth keeping.

So wrap your gift with it. Then frame it. No tape, no waste, just something that continues to live on your wall.

Available this weekend at all our stores in Malaysia.

Straits Chinese Porcelain is not just a book we carry. It is, in many ways, where everything began.

Before there were scarves, stores, or collections, there was a set of angpow. Our very first product. And those designs were directly inspired by the porcelain captured in this book. The colours, the compositions, the florals, the balance between precision and joy. It all started here.

What makes this book so special is not only the beauty of the pieces, but the person behind it.

Datin Sri Kee Ming-Yuet has dedicated her life to preserving and documenting Straits Chinese porcelain. Her work is thoughtful, detailed, and deeply rooted in heritage. Through her, these objects are not just collected, they are understood.

And for me, it goes beyond inspiration.

Her family has been part of my journey from the very beginning. Always present, always supportive, always there. The kind of presence you don’t question, you just feel. Over time, you realise that some people are simply meant to be part of your path.

Looking back, it feels very clear. The universe has a way of connecting the right people at the right time, often long before you understand why.

This book holds that beginning.

It is a beautiful documentation of Straits Chinese porcelain, but it is also a reminder of how ideas are formed, how inspiration travels, and how something small can grow into something much bigger.

From a set of angpow to everything Nala is today, this is where the story started.

The book is now available in all our stores across Malaysia.