The Bodynits Story

Bodynits began as one sister’s dream, a dream which was to be embraced by the entire Tan family. Making a vision into reality was not easy but with God’s blessings, family strength, sheer perseverance, hard working and loyal staff, Bodynits International Pte Ltd soon became a quietly successful company.

The company started business in 1984 just as the fitness and aerobics craze took hold in Singapore. Then, Kheng & Lynn, the eldest and third sisters in the Tan family were running the family’s undergarment shops located at Katong and Bukit Timah. Here, the sisters noticed that customers were constantly asking for fitness wear and in particular, leotards. They began sourcing for such garments for their shops and observed that the market was starving for fitness wear. Realising that a marketing opportunity had presented itself, the brand, Bodynits was conceived and launched in Singapore.

Initially, the plan was to produce for the two family owned outlets. However, to justify production costs, volume had to increase and the market expanded. And expand it did. Manufacturing soon became to be as important, if not more important than the brand marketing business. Kheng was responsible for the production of goods and Lynn, for the marketing of the brand. Besides, their own outlets, Bodynits was sold into department stores, fitness centers and schools. It was Klasse, the upmarket arm of the Oriental Emporium store chain that gave Bodynits their first exposure in department stores in the early 80’s and from then on, Bodynits grew steadily in popularity and was soon sold in all the better department stores in Singapore.

As sales grew quickly, the other siblings were roped in to cope with the demands of a growing business. Molly, the second eldest sister, resigned from her job as a secretary and became responsible for production and business development. In fact, she quickly became rather good in her job as a factory manager and in new business development. This is reflected in the contribution of manufacturing towards the total business volume of the company. Gee the second youngest, then a piano teacher and a book keeper was asked to take care of the company’s accounts. Yinn the youngest and still schooling chipped in whenever help was needed. Bert, the only son in the family joined the company in 1993.

The very first Bodynits leotard was made in the backroom of the Tan family home. Six months later production was relocated from the house to a rented factory space of about 800 square feet. With hard earned capital and other financial leverage, additional sewing and cutting machines were bought and more seamstresses hired. By 1985, new markets and higher volume in production required that the factory space be increased to 1,500 square feet. By 1987 it was 5,000 square feet and yet it soon became inadequate. In 1996 the company was occupying 20,000 square feet and was still crying out for more as it was bursting at the seams. Today, Bodynits International has manufacturing facilities in Singapore, China, Indonesia and Vietnam!

BODYNITS INTERNATIONAL PTE LTD. All rights reserved