By Smita Krishnaswamy

LOCAL sportswear manufacturer Bodynits is riding out the global recession by investing in itself - getting into top shape like an athlete readying for the next race.

The home-grown firm bolted to fame last year after making the yellow, black and green tank top which Usain Bolt wore as he scooped three gold medals at the Beijing Olympics.

That was a far cry from Bodynits' simple beginnings in the early 1980s, when founder Lynn Tan and her siblings first stitched together garments in their mother's backyard.

The company is now one of the region's largest apparel contract manufacturers, with production facilities in Singapore, China and Indonesia.

It has more than 3,600 employees in the region, and counts sportswear giants such as Puma, Nike and Adidas as long-term clients.

The last time The Straits Times spoke to Ms Tan, in October last year, she was taking stock of the business and rethinking its growth strategy.

Bodynits has three retail stores here - one each in Marina Square and Suntec City, and a new one in Orchard Central, which replaced the company's Centrepoint store.

Although business has been hurt by the recession, Ms Tan says the company has managed to avoid layoffs.

In fact, it is investing in its employees and has taken advantage of a government scheme to send more than 80 for management training.

Bodynits is also expanding its production facilities in Indonesia. The company plans to build an eco-friendly facility on a newly acquired 19ha piece of land in Batam.

The company is focusing on improving its research and development capabilities in areas such as perspiration management too, with an eye on participating further in the apparel-design process.

Ms Tan is also concentrating on boosting business by developing relationships with new and existing customers. She wants to expand the company's business-to-business work, such as making apparel for established brands on a project basis.

Bodynits is promoting its products at local sports and fitness programmes as well, by providing apparel for events such as the Community Development Council Suburban Run.

But Ms Tan says the company has no intention of expanding further into retail at the moment.

'We want to take the slow period to build infrastructure and empower people,' she said. 'It's the time for strengthening and building the business.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times.