What led to you starting your company? 

We founded the company in 2018. We wanted to share our love of handmade soaps with the community, so we opened NAAJ studio. We created a calming and zen space where students can nurture themselves while making beautiful soaps. 

What makes the product you are including in the box so special?

All of our soaps are handmade in small batches and produced here in Hong Kong. We use the slow cold process method, which means no external heat is used and the goodness of the natural ingredients is preserved as much as possible. NAAJ studio strives to make sustainable choices in the ingredients we use to formulate our soap products. We do not use palm oil due to deforestation and habitat loss for native species often involved when harvesting the oil.

How best can your products be enjoyed?

Our soaps are cured for a minimum of eight weeks to harden them up. To make your bar go even further, we recommend allowing it to dry out between uses and setting it on a draining soap dish. Using a soap bag will give creamy suds. Simply hang to dry between uses. 

What led to you starting your company? 

I founded Malabar Baby in 2017. Before that, I worked in finance for ten years in New York and London. My husband and I now live in Hong Kong with our son, Aryan, who is the real inspiration behind the brand. Those who know me know that I appreciate a cosy nook, colourful cushions and good cosy bedding.

While I was pregnant, I was excited to shop for a crib and bedding. I looked high and low to find things that were genuinely safe, eco-friendly, made with high-quality breathable materials, and not boring. It was a tall order. Nothing I could find at the time was affordable and accessible, or felt very good after a wash. I toyed with the idea of starting Malabar Baby for months. I was that mom who did tonnes of research and factory visits, and had endless conversations with members of my family who work in manufacturing before quitting my corporate life and beginning the journey with my second baby, Malabar Baby. It has been nothing short of fun and inspiring to be part of our clients’ everyday memories.

What makes the product you are including in the box so special?

The block-printed “everyday pouches” in Lindsay’s unlisted box are launching this month on our website and are a personal favourite of mine. I used to take scrap pieces of leftover fabric from our baby bedding sets and make a bag or toiletry case from what was left. My friends in Hong Kong would always comment when I’d pull out a vibrant print from my handbag and they’d ask me to make one for them. We were finally able to upcycle enough to share with our community. Made from upcycled natural Indian cotton, our reusable pouches are for anyone who likes to stay organised and fashionable while buying products with a real story.

How best can your products be enjoyed?

We pride ourselves on meticulously crafting our designs and creating articles that never go out of style. We aspire to create timeless products that tell a story. We want to share our handcrafted products and the beauty of Indian textiles with the world at affordable prices.

The brand has become a success purely by word of mouth. Malabar Baby products pamper your children in their daily routine or are given as a special gift. We have you covered for your next baby shower, 100-day milestone or, as of recently, housewarmings, thanks to our new line of couch throws and adult bedding.

For more information on how to purchase the Tatler Unlisted April Gift Box, click here