In the Niné-Niné workshop
Soré pouches, laptop sleeves, toiletry bags, cotton bags, bandanas, and scrunchies are made at Niné-Niné, a workshop located in Kuta, South Lombok.
I met Lulu a little over two years ago, during my first trip to Lombok. It was at the Lombok Eco Flea Market, a market that brings together local businesses committed to craftsmanship, the circular economy, and fair trade.
I stopped at her stall because I immediately loved her products. The colors, the prints, the flowers… everything matched what I like to wear, what I like to bring back from trips, and the universe I was already imagining for Soré.
The fact that Lulu is French allowed us to spend a long time chatting. We talked about her journey, the creation of Niné-Niné, and everything she was trying to build in Lombok. The more the conversation progressed, the more I found values that are also very important to me: upcycling, the preservation of local know-how, women's empowerment, fair remuneration, and the desire to produce differently.
Upon returning to France, I continued to follow the evolution of Niné-Niné. I saw the company grow, develop new products, open a café, offer cooking classes, open a second shop, and launch its own weaving workshop to create new fabrics while keeping traditional Lombok techniques alive.
When I started working on Soré, I already knew who I wanted to collaborate with.
Upcycling at the heart of the project
Upcycling is part of Niné-Niné's DNA.
A large part of the accessories is made from old bendang sarongs, traditional Lombok fabrics. Instead of producing new textiles, the workshop collects existing sarongs, washes them, inspects them, and then transforms them into pouches, laptop sleeves, tote bags, bandanas, or scrunchies.
This way of working helps to limit textile waste while giving a second life to existing fabrics. It also explains why many Soré accessories are offered as unique pieces. Each sarong is different, and once used, there is no identical fabric to produce a new series.
Beyond the ecological aspect, I also like the idea that each accessory retains a part of the history of the fabric from which it originated; this is also what makes each piece different.
Women at the heart of Niné-Niné
Niné-Niné means "woman" in Sasak, the language spoken in Lombok. A choice that perfectly reflects the company's values, where women play a central role.
Niné-Niné's goal is to create sustainable jobs for women in Lombok while guaranteeing them fair pay.
Some weave traditional Sasak fabrics, others make accessories, or welcome visitors. Mothers can come with their children, grandmothers are welcome, and the workshop's organization has been designed to adapt to their daily lives.
When I returned to pick up the first Soré collection, I discovered a workshop where everyone already knew about the project. Each woman was proud to show me the accessories that had just been made and to see the colors I had chosen come to life.
I met an incredibly welcoming, attentive, and always smiling team. Despite the cultural differences, I felt right at home.
Why I chose to work with Niné-Niné
What I appreciate about Lulu is her ability to evolve her company without ever losing the values that gave it birth.
In a few years, she has developed new products, opened a café, launched cooking classes, and invested in her own weaving workshop. She continues to innovate while remaining true to her initial objective: to preserve local know-how and create opportunities for women in Lombok.
When I launched Soré, I proposed that we create a first collection together. This is how the collaboration between Soré and Niné-Niné was born.
The Soré × Niné-Niné collection
If you look at the labels of your pouches, laptop sleeves, toiletry bags, cotton bags, bandanas, and scrunchies Soré, you will see that it doesn't just say Soré, but Soré × Niné-Niné.
I could have had these products made and sold the collection only under the Soré name. I found it fairer that the workshop's name also appeared.
This collection is the result of true teamwork. Soré imagines the products; Niné-Niné brings them to life. It was therefore obvious to me that both names should appear on each label.
Behind each accessory, there are women, know-how, and a company that I am happy to support for several years now.
Niné-Niné Workshop, Shop & Café
Jl. Mawun, Menggalung, Kuta, Kec. Pujut, Kabupaten Lombok Tengah, Nusa Tenggara Barat 83573, Indonesia
If you enjoyed discovering Niné-Niné, you might also like to discover Kuta Lombok, the village where the workshop is located and where I have been returning regularly for several years.