Kathlyn Tan could finally see clearly in 2016—and not just metaphorically. Plagued with debilitating myopia, she had lens implants that gave her clear vision for the first time since she was a child. “It’s like having a new set of eyes. It was life‑changing,” she tells me over a morning coffee. Excited by her ability to see without contact lenses, she ratcheted up her scuba diving activities to train as a divemaster. “Suddenly, I could demonstrate all these things [to students] with my mask flooded and my eyes open.”
We are ensconced in a cafe in her neighbourhood, where I’m following up on her email responses to my preliminary questions. As an introvert, she feels more comfortable writing out her thoughts, she says. Her considered replies fill five printed pages, written in bursts over a week. In-person, she is the embodiment of the “!” and “:)” that peep out from her sober responses. We speak about her days at boarding school, her passion for scuba diving and freediving, her influences and joys; and a story begins to emerge.
Kathlyn Tan the marine conservation champion came into being the year after her eye operation, when her love of the sea, the plenitude of life she has seen in it, and its increasing degradation crystallised into a cause and set the direction of her life. She was then 29 years old, and not without resources and connections. She introduced an environmental portfolio into her family’s investment vehicle, which was renamed Rumah Group in 2019. Meaning “home” in Malay, it was inspired by family to contribute to a better world through sustainable investments. And like a staghorn coral sprouting limbs, Tan branched out into impact investments, philanthropy, and on‑the‑ground initiatives.
ãã®èšäºã¯ Tatler Singapore ã® May 2022 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ Tatler Singapore ã® May 2022 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
Louder Than You Think
It might not shout about itself, but among the worldâs most influential people, Brunello Cucinelli is everywhere. Its coâchairman and coâcreative director Carolina Cucinelli shares why the Italian brandâs highâend ubiquity is built on its rockâsolid values
A New Era
La Prairie unveils the first product from its new collection, the Life Matrix Haute Rejuvenation Cream, an innovative creation that represents a new chapter in luxury skincare for those seeking to maintain healthy skin
Revolutionising Healthcare
Artificial intelligence is the future of healthcare, according to Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association CEO Harjit Gill. Ahead of its Asia Pacific MedTech Forum 2024, she outlines how a digitally driven healthcare system can improve access and outcomes for all
REBIRTH RENEWAL REWARD
Renowned artist Nari Ward gives Tatler a peek into his Harlem studio as he prepares for his solo exhibition in Seoul
Blurring Lines, Breaking Boundaries
Cartierâs creative director of jewellery and watches Marie-Laure CérÚde on the maisonâs commitment to creating statement-making timepieces for discerning luxury consumers
Tan Yin Ling
The coâfounder of Cloop on how her social enterprise is closing the loop on Singaporeâs fashion waste
THE World IS YOUR Oyster
Tatler gets a taste of the luxe nomadic life aboard the worldâs most exclusive residential ship as it sails from South Korea to Japan
HAUTE HOTELS
Find out where designers, models and fashionistas stay during Fashion Week
RAISING THE STEAKS
Hanwoo, Koreaâs native beef, is celebrated not only for its flavourful meat but also its rich history and deep cultural significance. We explore the qualities and traditions that make Hanwoo a national treasureâand why the rest of the world needs to know about it
The Fashion Centennial
In celebration of its 100th anniversary, Loro Piana looks back on its legacy of exceptional fabrics, textile innovation and savoir faire in its fallâwinter 2024â2025 womenâs and menâs collections