From boardrooms to CrossFit gyms, from tailoring suits in Singapore to overseeing water filtration projects in China, Lan Yihong's journey is a testament to blending passion, purpose, and personal style. As Director at Suntar International Group, he has built his career around making clean water accessible to communities that need it most — all while navigating the demands of a global business with a signature sense of style.
In this feature, he wears a jacket crafted from Carnet’s Comfort Checks — a fabric known for its refined texture and versatility — paired with trousers in Carnet’s Washed Cotton, offering relaxed sophistication that suits his dynamic lifestyle.
Could you share a bit about your journey to becoming a Director at Suntar International Group? What inspired you to dedicate your career to developing sustainable water filtration solutions?
I move to Singapore together with my parents when my father got a scholarship to do his PhD in Chemistry at NUS (he was the first batch of Chinese PhD scholars after Singapore resumed diplomatic relations with China). During his PhD, he wrote a research proposal for his Professor that would eventually go on to become the basis for NeWater. He also met Ms Olivia Lum who was the project’s industry collaborator. He went on the work for her as her Technical Director and China GM for a few years before eventually starting Suntar. The family has been in the water industry since, and it has really changed our lives. We came from nothing (as do most Chinese families in the 80s), so I am grateful for the opportunities this platform has provided for me and siblings.
Suntar has been a global leader in water filtration technology for over two decades. What continues to drive your passion for providing access to clean water, especially in underprivileged areas of China?
It’s sometimes said that water will be our scarcest/most valuable resource. From our perspective, water is indeed a precious resource. But there’s reason for it to be scarce. The technology to make it abundant is already available. What is needed is a combination of understanding the technological toolkit, engineering implementation and well thought out policies. Singapore, under LKY’s vision, has done very well in this aspect. We hope to bring this model to not just China, but also the rest of the world.
Your work often takes you between Singapore and China, including meetings with government officials. How do you adapt your wardrobe to suit such varied professional settings and cultural expectations?
Comfort is important to me. When I travel, I tend to travel light (no check in luggage! Though I recently procured a suit bag I am very happy with and can hold two suits). So if I am meeting government officials, a navy or charcoal suit is the default. If I expect to be relatively young compared to my counterparts, it would be better to go with the charcoal options in China. I think it’s important that the choice fits the setting or I’d just be uncomfortable. As much as I love my Piacenza travel suit, that would be just distracting in a meeting with Chinese government officials, so I’d would save that for other occasions.
Your personal style leans more toward the “broken suit” look — mixing tailored pieces. What do you enjoy about that freedom and contrast?
I like that the permutation and combination gives me more looks with the same number of pieces.
We hear you’re a big fan of our Gurkha trousers and are even exploring a purple suit next. What draws you to these distinctive pieces, and how do you approach colour and individuality in tailoring?
Aside from getting a replacement charcoal/navy suit as needed from time to time, I now try to collect different colors for the suits. I think what CYC has been doing by having their tailors wear different jackets really inspires me. I got the Piacenza because you guys sent out an email of the collection and I saw Earl in that exact color I got later. It’s actually not easy to visualize how the piece would turn out just by looking at the fabric book. I have made some pieces I rarely wear because either tastes changed or they were just too.. bright.
Your brother also tailors with CYC — does style run in the family, or do you inspire (and maybe challenge) each other’s wardrobe choices?
He’s still not at the phase where he’s tailoring a lot of suits but he loves CYC tshirts. I recently picked up some tshirts that he had ordered and that’s when I found out you guys had more embroidery options beyond the 3 bunnies (he got one with a tennis racket which looked great). So I went ahead and got one with a bicycle, one with a shuttlecock and one with boxing gloves. But I think his with the tennis racket is the best.
Beyond work, what are some of your personal interests or ways you unwind when you’re not travelling or leading the team at Suntar?
If I’m in Singapore, I go to this gym called WAO Fitness (Dempsey, Media Circle, and Punggol) fairly regularly. It’s a CrossFit gym and once or twice a year we join competitions (old people age group) around the region. It’s a competition but it’s not about winning (we usually come in somewhere in the middle of the pack). Having something to train for and work towards is quite satisfying. It’s also a good alternative to the typical weekend getaways, you still travel and eat a lot, but you probably burnt off all the calories also. My friends and I also like to do bbqs at one of our places. Carv Butchery and Cut Butchery both provide good options for meat. Cut has tomahawks that’s fun if you have a large enough grill. Carv would deliver binchotan to your place if needed. Music and alcohol are all part of the night.
How did you first discover CYC, and what made you continue tailoring with us?
I was introduced by an older gentleman who I respect very much when I was still in university. I think CYC was a known quantity for my 20s. It was reasonably priced, and the suits fit well (most other tailors didn’t work out for me). Either you guys started marketing the premium fabrics more in the last 5 years or I opened my eyes more to them but I am glad that the options are there now that I can appreciate them more.
You’ve tailored several pieces with Ruys and Earl. What’s your relationship with them like — do you usually have a clear idea in mind when you walk in, or do they help guide you toward new styles and fabrics?
I think I really enjoy coming in once every 1-2 months so every time I come in, I might get something else so I have a reason to come again in 1-2 months. I don’t think I always have a clear idea in mind, so sometimes I just browse and see if something calls out to me. Sometimes the offers in season are a good impetus to browse what’s available. Usually I would pick a fabric for the suit and I’ll rely on Ruys and Earl for some ideas on the styles, buttons, what pants/shirts I could pair it with, when could I wear it/how formal it is etc. For the Carnet suit they recommended a more casual blue shirt that was just finished last weekend that I’m not absolutely in love with.
Finally, if your wardrobe could tell one story about you, what would it be?
To be honest as much as I love my CYC suits, my wardrobe is really about optimizing my casual wear. On regular days at the office with no client meetings I’m usually in my CYC T-shirts and Lululemon pants. I must have more than 30 pieces of CYC T-Shirts in different colors. The CYC polo is also very useful in China where meetings are usually less formal. If anything, I think my suitcase says more about me. I would usually pack two CYC T-Shirts, two CYC polos, two nobull tshirts/shorts for working out, one pair of lululemon track pants for comfortable wearing on the plane rides. My suit bag would hold a suit that’s suitable for the more formal event of the trip. If the most formal event is very formal I’ll pack a linen suit in the suitcase and forgo the suit bag. So I think that’s who I am, someone who would dress as comfortably as I could get away with for the occasion most of the time, but also enjoy suiting up whenever there’s an occasion to do so.
Crafted for Every Moment
Just as Suntar’s technology brings clarity and sustainability to water, Lan Yihong's wardrobe reflects the same thoughtful balance — sharp, refined, yet comfortably effortless. His affinity for Carnet fabrics speaks to that philosophy: pieces that move easily between formality and freedom, designed for professionals who live and work without boundaries.
Whether you’re refining your own smart-casual wardrobe or exploring fabrics that bring comfort and craftsmanship together, discover the versatility of Carnet at CYC and find a piece that tells your story just as effortlessly.