iN-Trend Issue #09/25: From groundbreaking home innovations and artistic celebrations to community health initiatives and inspired design collaborations, this edition brings together stories that highlight creativity, progress, and the joy of shaping a better everyday life.
Feature Image credit: David Rockwell / The Rug Company
IKEA House Party brings the Affordable Joy of Home to Life
Staying home is the new going out, and IKEA Malaysia is ready to prove it. Starting this September, the much-loved home furnishing retailer is throwing a month-long celebration across all four stores i.e. IKEA Damansara, Cheras, Tebrau and Batu Kawan. Dubbed the IKEA House Party, the event is filled with food, design, and everyday fun. Think cooking demos, creative table styling masterclasses, cosy gigs and even an “Ultimate Cookoff” where three grand prize winners will walk away with kitchen makeovers worth RM10,000 each. It is both an invitation and an inspiration for Malaysians to fall in love with their home all over again. The event shines a spotlight on cooking, eating and dining, where ideas and solutions come together to simplify the process, ease preparation and support people in making healthier and more sustainable choices. A dream kitchen is no longer a fantasy, with storage that helps reduce food waste, tools and utensils that make cooking more efficient, and modular setups that ensure every space works harder. Head over to IKEA stores from 13 September to 5 October 2025 for the IKEA House Party for a chance to get inspired, discover how life at home can be more enjoyable, delectable, comfortable, customisable yet affordable, or simply enjoy a fun day out.
http://www.ikea.my
Hisense 2025 New Product Launch Showcases the World’s First 116” RGB-MiniLED TV and Next-Gen Home Innovations
Hisense has unveiled its groundbreaking World’s First 116” RGB-MiniLED TV, which sets a new benchmark for home entertainment. At the heart of the TV is a pioneering RGB-MiniLED local dimming technology, the first of its kind to be mass-produced. This breakthrough allows the TV to achieve an incredible peak brightness of 8,000 nits, creating stunningly vibrant colors with a wide coverage of up to 95% of the BT.2020 standard. This record-setting brightness, paired with the immersive 6.2.2 CineStage X Surround system, offers an auditory experience developed in collaboration with the Opéra de Paris, blending advanced engineering with acoustic artistry. The system has also received prestigious accolades, including an award for Best Audio Experience at this year’s convention. The viewing experience is further enhanced by the Hi-View AI Engine X, which intelligently optimizes picture, sound, and settings in real time. This powerful AI ensures the 116″ Infinity Vision display transforms any space into a cinematic arena, creating an immersive experience unlike any other.
https://www.hisense.com.my/
Tokyo Gendai Closes Vibrant Third Edition Celebrating Extraordinary Contemporary Art Landscape of Japan
Punctuating a moment of remarkable local market growth, and following a year of exceptional cultural activity, Tokyo Gendai 2025 brought global audiences to Japan to explore its singular artistic landscape. The fair returned to PACIFICO Yokohama from 12 – 14 September (VIP Preview and Vernissage on 11 September), with SMBC as its Principal Partner. This year’s edition showcased Japan’s distinct position as a space where experimental practices become global phenomena, affirming its status as an unmissable cultural constellation in the Asia Pacific region. Convening 66 galleries from across the world, Tokyo Gendai galvanized audiences from the region and beyond to discover Japan’s unique alchemy; where centuries of craftsmanship fuse with cutting-edge creativity. The fair showcased 66 galleries from around the world across three key sectors: Galleries, featuring presentations reflective of the galleries’ year-round programming; Hana ‘Flower’ showcasing emerging or mid-career artists; and Eda ‘Branch’ for presentations of established and historically significant figures, with a special focus on Asian art. The 4th edition of Tokyo Gendai will be held at PACIFICO Yokohama from 11 to 13 September 2026.
https://tokyogendai.com/
Alpro Group Launches Nationwide Initiative Starting with Smart Reader
Alpro Group has taken a significant step in prioritising children’s health with the launch of a nationwide school health screening initiative through its healthcare arms, Alpro Pharmacy and OptiSaver by Alpro. The programme, which began with more than 3,000 children at Smart Reader centres, provides complimentary growth, nutrition and vision screenings, and is now available to preschools and primary schools across Malaysia. This initiative underscores Alpro Group’s strong commitment to preventive care and early intervention, equipping children, parents and educators with the knowledge and resources to nurture a healthier generation. It also reflects the Group’s broader mission of improving community health through education, early detection and accessible services. As Malaysia’s largest prescription pharmacy chain, Alpro continues to extend its social impact through purposeful partnerships and outreach. Preschools, primary schools and education-based organisations nationwide are invited to join this impactful programme.
https://www.alpropharmacy.com
Flow As Form: David Rockwell’s Latest Collaboration with The Rug Company
Celebrated architect and designer David Rockwell, founder of the renowned Rockwell Group, has unveiled his latest project: Flow as Form, a rug collection inspired by the elegance and movement of water. Created in collaboration with The Rug Company, the collection introduces three new hand-knotted designs that capture the shifting forms and rhythms of water through tonal palettes, layered pile heights and textured depth. The rugs reflect Rockwell’s signature storytelling approach, blending nature’s fluidity with contemporary design to produce pieces that are both sculptural and serene. The designs are handmade in Nepal by skilled weavers, who employ centuries-old techniques using wool and lustrous bamboo silk. This craftsmanship enhances the abstract patterns, lending richness and subtle sheen. Evoking flowing currents, brushstrokes and ripples, Flow as Form offers rugs that ground interiors while imparting a sense of harmony and energy, embodying the intersection of natural beauty and refined design.
https://www.therugcompany.com/
