Bag brand Aupen's founder is former national swimmer Nicholas Tan

The Singapore-founded bag brand Aupen has been seen on the arms of pop superstars Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, and Beyonce, but the team behind the trendy label has largely kept a low profile—until now.

- Jan Lee

Former Singapore national swimmer Nicholas Tan (above right) has come forward as its founder in an interview with fashion trade journal Women's Wear Daily (WWD).

The 35-year-old is a former Asian Games (2010) and two-time SEA Games (2007 and 2011) athlete. He helped to bring home the gold for Singapore in the men's 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2007 SEA Games.

After his swimming career, Mr. Tan studied biology at Harvard University in the US.

He was also an early team member of what is now known as Sea, the parent company behind Singapore-based e-commerce platform Shopee.

On the style front, he was the first Singaporean man to feature in a top European brand's campaign for a season collection. He was selected for Italian fashion house Dolce & Gabbana's 2014 spring/summer advertising campaign.

Mr. Tan told WWD that his interest in fashion was sparked by his modeling career.