Designing Fashion’s Future

A respected figure in the apparel-making sector, Mark Lee is confident that our little red dot can become a fashion powerhouse. Melissa Gail Sing discovers how he is propelling this dream

ark lee has more than 6,000 employees under his charge and his businesses rake in millions of dollars annually. A fine example of entrepreneurial success, he led his company on a successful IPO listing on the main board of the Singapore Exchange in 2000 before multiplying its turnover fivefold to over US$230M. But stuffy corporate suits aren’t his cup of tea. Most days, the CEO and third-generation heir of Sing Lun Holdings is outfitted in something that came out of his apparel manufacturing plants across Asia, which produce sportswear for top-names such as The North Face, Under Armour and Puma. “Since young, I’ve mostly been wearing products my company manufactures. It’s a way to showcase them and do quality checks. I also wear brands I feel are good value,” he says. Today, Mark cuts a sharp figure in a Benjamin Barker shirt with contrast stitching, a red sweater and a Carrie K bracelet. He speaks openly about his support for local designers and sees a bright future for the sector. “It’s little known that we have thriving companies that design and manufacture for major brands in the world. We are quite entrenched, especially in the sportswear industry. Many companies with manufacturing facilities in design have their headquarters here, but thousands of employees worldwide. Collectively, Singapore-owned apparel manufacturing and retail firms do more than $2.1b in trade. Will we ever become a fashion powerhouse like London, Paris, Milan and Shanghai? I think it’s not a question of if, but when,” he says. Mark’s conviction stems from observations of various spheres of the textile and fashion industries. Head of the organising committee of fashion trade show Blueprint since 2012, he is also president of the Textile and Fashion Federation Singapore (Taff ) and sits on the Committee on the Future Economy. “With the Asean Economic Community initiative, there will be a sizeable market in the region. And Singapore’s global identity makes it a natural springboard for brands from the West wanting to venture to the East, and vice versa,” he says. Rave reviews about Keepers, the multi-label pop-up boutique housing local designs, are encouraging, too. “It had visits from royalty, actress Zhang Ziyi and tennis star Caroline Wozniacki. More people now know that Singapore brands have so much more to offer. Who says we cannot do it?” says Mark, adding that there are plans for a permanent home for Keepers, in the format of a lifestyle hub with spaces that show artisans at work. To take the industry forward, Taff organises talks, trade shows and overseas trips for emerging designers. What’s also crucial, Mark says, is that brands keep abreast of developments, particularly technological ones, in the fast-evolving industry: “Technology changes the way consumers shop, so they must use the internet and social media to their advantage and help propel their brands forward. Incorporating technology into design will be key, too. Then there’s the issue of sustainability, which will become even more important in the future.” As he juggles business and industry-centric pursuits, Mark, who’s married with a son, strives to continue the legacy of stewardship and giving back started by his grandfather, who founded Sing Lun 65 years ago, and perpetuated by his father Patrick, Sing Lun’s chairman. The company’s corporate social responsibility efforts extend to scholarships, eldercare and helping the less privileged. On a personal level, the adrenaline junkie has things like skydiving and running across Antarctica on his bucket list. “I like to push my limits,” he says. And you can bet it’ll be with Made in Singapore gear on his back.