Bold and colourful patterns are certainly not easy to tackle for any designer, but this local lifestyle brand really nails it with every collection.
Founded in 2008, Nala Designs has won over locals’ hearts with its collections of apparel, stationery, and accessories completely inspired by Malaysian culture.
Nala’s christmas pop-up store in bangsar village ii
Coming up on its 10th anniversary, Nala has already achieved so much. Apart from Malaysia, they now have branches in France, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Cambodia, as well as 10 outlets in Thailand alone!
Now, the growing lifestyle brand has released a new winter 2018 collection called ‘Over The Moon’, inspired by Chinese mooncakes and vintage Malaysian jewellery. Their brand new collection is currently on display at Bangsar Village II’s Concourse area from now until 2nd January 2019, and judging by what we’ve seen, it’s a winter collection like no other!
“Being given the opportunity to decorate a shopping mall’s atrium during a peak season is an honour and a big responsibility. This is the first time the Bangsar Village management has given it to a sole retailer to manage and I hope I have done it justice with my spin of a white Christmas with classic Malaysian motifs which complements the Nala collection on display,” says the brand’s founder and creative director, Lisette Scheers.
Excited to check out Nala’s latest ‘Over The Moon’ collection? WORLD OF BUZZ had a sneak preview recently and here are the highlights;
1. Home decor with a pop of colour
Anyone familiar with Nala knows that they never shy away from bold, contrasting colours. Speaking to WORLD OF BUZZ, Lisette explained her affinity for bright, flowery patterns.
“I’m not so focused on seasons, so I do whatever inspires me. Our next collection is actually coming in February and it’s called ‘Jalan-Jalan in the Park’, and it’s inspired by all the flowering trees in the Lake Gardens. We actually have collections lined up until December 2019.”
“I love trees. I can’t live in an apartment. I live in a Kampung house now and it’s like a paradise for me. I come home and I feel like I was born in that house. I find flowering trees extremely romantic and beautiful and that definitely inspires me.”
“My patterns definitely reflect me. It feels like I’m on a time limit, I’m 48 and I feel like I need to get everything out before I die. I just sit down and design for hours, and that’s how I managed to churn out 4 collections. Every one of my patterns is hand-drawn, so it’s like every design has its own soul.”
“I also spend a really long time looking for colours and I’m very firm with my colour palettes for each collection.”
2. Vibrant accessories to spice up your wardrobe
Nala has unveiled a brand new collection of purses, bags, and scarves, and their bold patterns are maintained in their line of accessories. When asked about how she comes up with her uniquely colourful designs, Lisette says,
“I always say you design with your stomach, not with your head. Once you know that feeling and understand it, you continue designing with that in mind and never stop. My heart and soul is in everything I design. It really makes me happy.”
“I’ve never had a creative block and I realise that I can control my mind to such an extent that I’ve managed to follow a personal system and manage my time well.”
3. Bold yet elegant ’50s-inspired apparel
Mooncake-inspired motifs can be seen throughout this collection, and Lisette explains the story behind her inspiration for ‘Over the Moon’.
“It’s inspired by vintage mooncake moulds. This came to life more than a year ago. I was at a flea market in Kuching and bought 5 stunning old mooncake moulds and also found some beautiful vintage Malay jewellery. They’re not related in any way except that they’re both very intricate and beautiful.”
While Nala’s apparel pays homage to old-fashioned ’50s style dresses and silhouettes, she says other, more modern designs are also in the works.
“The dresses I design follow a distinct ’50s style and I love the classic ’50s silhouette. Now, we’re planning to branch out into trousers and simple tops.”
4. Adorable kitchen accessories
Nala’s ‘Over the Moon’ collection also features adorable new designs for their signature oven mitts and potholders. Judging by these intricate designs, you would think that the brand’s founder, Lisette, has been designing her whole life. Well, while she previously studied illustration, she actually spent most of her career working in advertising.
“My core business was advertising and I worked a lot in the Food & Beverage (F&B) industry. I had nothing to do at one point, and I had the opportunity to design stationery.”
“I sold stationery for the first 5 years, then we decided to branch out into pillowcases and bags soon after that. The turning point was when we decided to do a trade show in Japan. We then had the opportunity to open a store in Paris and it proved to be quite successful.”
So, interested in getting something a little different for someone special this Christmas? Be sure to check out Nala’s pop-up store in Bangsar Village II from now until 2nd January 2019, or visit their Facebook or Instagram pages to browse through their collections!
Here’s where you can find their pop-up store:
Bangsar Village II Concourse, 2, Jalan Telawi 1, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur
Also read: This Company Makes Local Food-Themed Cushions and We Definitely Want a Piece of it!
