At the mention of Malaysian crafts, more often than not we would think of the usual bric-a-brac you would find at souvenir stores, some of which are poorly made and overpriced. 

Enter Nori Abdullah Badawi, her sisters-in-law Mona and Hana Jamaluddin, and close friend Pam Shahril, who teamed up to bring new and polished meaning to the term “Malaysian crafts” through KitaKita. Set up five years ago as a passion project, KitaKita is a social enterprise that focuses on preservation, promotion and development of home-grown craftsmanship. Since its inception, it has grown to become a well-recognised curated lifestyle retail experience located in the heart of the premier suburb of Bukit Damansara, and physically, it has expanded three times in size from its original modest shop. 

The refurbished, larger boutique was launched last week. Done up in a palette of white and grey — all the better to showcase the kaleidoscopic array of merchandise within this charming 2,300 sq ft store — KitaKita now also has a café. The KitaKita Kafe further enriches the Malaysiana flavour of the store — once you’re done shopping, take a break at this quaint café, which serves up local fare such as laksa and Nyonya kuih.  

For the uninitiated, KitaKita’s offers a most diverse selection, ranging from fashion to everyday objects that have been designed and/or crafted in Malaysia, or is characterised with a uniquely Malaysian identity. Over the years, the brand has managed to show that although artisanship in Malaysian crafts is hard to find, it certainly is not non-existent. All products showcased at the boutique were carefully handpicked by its founders who adhere to a very strict criteria that encompasses aesthetic and design value as well as quality. 

The KitaKita team have traversed Malaysia to source for local craftmakers and producers of home décor, lifestyle products and gifts whose handiwork meet their set benchmark. The idea was that if you provide the opportunity and space in a way that is appealing and emphasised quality, both local producers and enthusiasts would benefit. In a joint statement released in conjunction with the official launch of the new store, the founders said: “In a country like Malaysia, with a wealth of diversity in art and culture, there is no reason why we can’t be passionate and proud of home-grown handicrafts. Things that we make are a reflection of our unique traditions, heritage and way of life and can set us apart from everyone else. We just need to know how to blend the traditional with the contemporary to keep things relevant and fresh.” 

KitaKita also provides corporate gift consultation as well as selected interior design services. KitaKita Kafe is open for private events specialising in home-cooked flavours. You can also shop for its products at online shopping portal GEMFIVE.

KitaKita is located at G110, 1 Jalan Medan Setia 1, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur. For more information, check out KitaKitaMY on both Facebook and Instagram.

This article first appeared in digitaledge Daily, on August 17, 2015.