One of the things I was taught as a graphic designer is that everything has the right to be designed, no matter how small or insignificant it might seem. It’s something I’ve carried with me throughout my career, and it’s very much part of how we think at nala. The inside of an envelope deserves as much attention as the outside, the lining of a bag should be just as beautiful as its exterior, and even the inside cover of a book is an opportunity to do something wonderful.

The other day, we were testing a potential production manager, and she asked me why we would bother putting a pattern on the inside of a bag when it would only increase the cost. I understood her point, of course, but my answer was simple. Why shouldn’t the inside be beautiful? After all, you’re the one who sees it every time you open your bag, and I think those little moments of unexpected pleasure are worth something.

Years ago, one of our signatures was using patterned linings inside our dresses. It was something I absolutely loved, and it’s a detail I’d very much like to bring back. For now, we’re concentrating on our bags, where the inside is never an afterthought. We’ve also become rather well known for making things reversible, which I suppose is the ultimate expression of this philosophy. Why have one beautiful side when you can have two?

I think we’ve become so used to looking at things from the outside that we sometimes forget what’s happening underneath. A beautiful lining might not be the first thing you notice, and it certainly isn’t the most economical decision, but that’s not really the point. Good design, to me, is about caring for the parts that people might not immediately see. It’s about the thought, the detail and the pleasure of discovering something unexpected.

Which brings me back to our Gerald bags. We’ve already introduced them, but I realised we forgot to show you something rather important: the inside! Each one is lined with a beautiful nala print, and I would argue that some of the interiors are even more beautiful than the exteriors. It’s a little surprise waiting for you every time you open your bag.

So here they are again, our Gerald bags, this time turned inside out, because I think the inside deserves its moment in the spotlight too.

Just because something is hidden doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be beautiful.