KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 — Stuck for ideas for Christmas presents? Head on over to Nala Designs, a homegrown brand by designer Lisette Scheers, which has opened their pop-up store at Isetan KLCC. Famed for their Peranakan influenced prints, you can find pillows, stationery, bags, accessories, home decor and other miscellaneous items here.
It’s their second pop-up store at the Japanese department store. This time, it will be a longer presence, till June 2016. As Scheers explains, “we are staying longer this time around because Isetan loves our stuff. We are also testing to see if it can be a permanent one here.”
Open from 10am to 10pm, there is a free calligraphy booth which allows you to personalise your Nala Designs purchase. On Fridays and Saturdays, there will be silkscreening demonstrations by Scheers too.
This Sunday, Nala Designs will also be at Bangsar Village. They will also be doing another pop-up at Isetan, The Gardens where you can get Nala Designs fabric on roll. The space would be bigger than the KLCC one.
If you want to wish someone Merry Christmas the traditional way, pick up Nala Designs Christmas cards for sale under their Winter Christmas Collection. These are available at Isetan KLCC. With three different designs — a snow rabbit, a robin and an umbrella, you can even request the bespoke colours you want and Scheers will silkscreen it for you. “The umbrella is a Malaysian story. I chose it because it is romantic. The snow rabbit and robin are traditional Christmas icons,” said Scheers.
As part of the pop-up, Scheers has also introduced six new patterns which can be found on the pillows (that includes a new oblong pillow shape), stationery, pouches, clutches, totes and scarves. There are new reversible totes -- with a hidden pocket -- in the new patterns. There is also the versatile maxi bag which is bigger than the regular totes at Nala Designs... beach bag, anyone?
Another new item on sale at the pop-up are scarves which can be used as a wrap, a headscarf and to cover up when you feel cold. “I created the scarf based on a scarf I love that I use for travelling. It is made of cotton voile and it is 2 metres,” said Scheers. The scarves are silkscreened with Nala Designs signature patterns and are lightweight so it doesn’t feel too stuffy.
Nala Designs also have gift sets in conjunction with the upcoming Christmas celebrations. Priced at RM108, you can get a Nala Designs pouch, Soap Affair handmade soap and Nala Designs greeting card all wrapped in an envelope. For RM250, there is the scarf set which comes with a greeting card and envelope. The RM230 set comes with a reversible tote, pouch or sketchbook, greeting card and envelope. Last but not least is the maxi bag set which includes a greeting card and notebook which goes for RM236. You can select any of the six patterns for the items in the set and choose from three designs for the cards.
Isetan members also enjoy a 10 per cent discount on all items except for the sets while stationery are 20 per cent off for anyone. Scheers also brought in some handwoven baskets from India which comes in lovely colours.
“The scarves and pouches are the best-sellers. The maxi bags are selling well too,” she said. The yellow print is a new pattern and that sells the best. If you like the Nala Designs apron, you can get the Confit Apron in two different options, the long one for RM176 while the short one retails for RM144.20.
Since Chinese New Year is next month, you can pick up Nala Designs’ ang pow packets which are Peranakan influenced in timeless, classic designs. “For the new designs, I come up with two seasons per year and I introduce six prints each season,” said Scheers.
Moving forward, Scheers hopes to have her own shop inside a shopping mall one day. “The people at Isetan are also very accommodating. The Japanese love Nala Designs,” she said.
Most of the customers who visit the store are Instagrammers inspired by the beautiful items on Nala Designs’ Instagram account. There was one customer from Singapore who was actually on the way to the airport.
She made a detour to the store and bought a lot of Nala Designs products.
The Nala Designs scarves and clutches are limited editions as there are only 100 pieces each so don’t wait. Time to do your Christmas shopping and Chinese New Year shopping at Nala Designs pop-up store at Isetan, KLCC!
Nala Designs will also be hosting a silkscreen workshop on December 12 at TH.Inc Academy, 8, Jalan Kemuja, 59000 Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. At the silkscreen workshop, you can learn how to print your own Christmas card on cloth or paper. It costs RM398 per person and is from 9.30am to 1.30pm. For information, contact [email protected].
Nala Designs Isetan KLCC pop-up store
First Floor, Suria KLCC, KL
Time: 10am to 10pm (November 2015 to June 2016)
