Worn. Made. Shared.: The Nusantara Table at Permata

What does it mean for heritage to stay alive? Perhaps it is not locked behind glass or folded carefully into a drawer. Perhaps it is worn, made, shared—and served around a table.

On Friday, 2 October 2026, Permata will host Worn. Made. Shared. The Nusantara Table, an evening that brings food, textiles, makers and conversation together. From 7:30pm to 9:30pm, Chef Mel Dean will bring Permata’s Nusantara setting into conversation with batik, as the evening celebrates ten years of Baju by Oniatta and welcomes three regional designers for a conversation about their work and perspectives.

The idea feels simple. You arrive for dinner, but the evening asks you to notice more than what is on the plate. A textile has a surface, but it also carries decisions: the rhythm of a pattern, the patience of a maker, the meaning a wearer brings to it. Food works in a similar way. It gathers technique, memory, place and people, then gives them a reason to sit together.

UNESCO describes Indonesian batik as a cultural practice shaped by hand-dyed textiles, symbolism and techniques passed through generations.1 Its significance lives not only in the finished cloth, but in how batik moves through everyday life, celebrations and ritual. That is why Worn. Made. Shared. is more than a dinner with a fashion theme. It is an invitation to think about how heritage travels: from hand to cloth, from designer to wearer, and from kitchen to table.

The setting matters too. Permata sits in Gedung Kuning on Sultan Gate, within Kampong Glam, a place shaped by the movement of people, trade and culinary traditions across the Nusantara world. The Malay Heritage Centre describes Kampong Gelam as a historic heart of Malay culture, while Permata’s own Nusantara story connects the mansion and its food to the region’s shared histories.2

That exchange between cloth and cuisine is especially fitting for Permata. The restaurant’s official page describes it as a place for timeless Nusantara flavours in a heritage setting, while Gedung Kuning’s story points towards the layered histories of Kampong Glam.3 On this night, those ideas are not background decoration. They become the reason to pause: to consider who keeps a tradition moving, how a design gathers new meaning, and what happens when a meal becomes part of a wider cultural conversation.

At the Nusantara Table, wear your curiosity, meet the stories, and let dinner do what it does best—bring people closer.

Expect an evening built around looking, listening and sharing. There will be dinner, batik, stories and a conversation with three regional designers. The programme is not asking guests to arrive as textile experts. Curiosity is enough. You may come because you love pattern, because you care about craft, because you know Baju by Oniatta, or simply because a good table is often where the most interesting ideas begin.

Tickets for this event are listed at $88 nett per person, inclusive of dinner. Reserve your place through the official event page and come gather around the Nusantara Table.

FAQ Block

Is this primarily a fashion event or a dining event?It is designed as a shared cultural evening combining dinner, batik, heritage and conversation rather than fitting into only one category.

Do I need prior knowledge of batik to attend?No. The event is intended as an open invitation to look, listen and share; curiosity is the only preparation required.

Who will be part of the conversation?The official event description states that three regional designers will join the conversation. Their names are not listed on the booking page.

Is the ticket price for dinner only?The official listing states that the $88 nett ticket includes dinner. Confirm the latest availability and terms on the live booking page.

Why is the event called The Nusantara Table?The name reflects the evening’s meeting point: Nusantara food, textile heritage, makers, designers and guests gathered around one table.