The Singaporean founder behind viral handbag brand Aupen

Now, Aupen’s founder, Nicholas Tan, a former national swimmer for Singapore, has finally stepped into the spotlight after revealing his identity in an interview with fashion trade journal, WWD, in November. Since going public, Tan told CNA Luxury that the company can now “tell our story, share what’s going on behind the scenes, and be more open and transparent.”

A NEW MODERNITY

Tan’s background reads like that of a typical Singaporean golden boy. The academically inclined 35-year-old went to Raffles Institution and Raffles Junior College in Singapore, before studying biology at Harvard University.

He was also a national swimmer, taking part in the Asian Games in 2010 and SEA Games in 2007 and 2011. Tan was part of the team to take home the gold for Singapore in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2007 SEA Games.

Later on, his professional journey included stints in tech IPOs and at Garena, now known as leading e-commerce platform Shopee. He first stepped into the world of fashion as a model for Italian label Dolce & Gabbana’s 2014 spring/summer campaign, becoming the first Singaporean man to feature in a top European brand’s campaign for a seasonal collection.

Prior to starting Aupen in 2022, he owned a fashion showroom in Asia that carried designer labels such as David Koma, Dries Van Noten and Joseph Altuzarra. “I brought European and American designers over to the Asian market. I was the bridge between a lot of these creative directors and their designs, helping to commercialise them into products that would actually sell in the market,” Tan shared. “That gave me a lot of experience in fashion, learning the ins and outs of the industry.”