Who: Tanisha Khan, 26, model, entrepreneur, co-founder of Pilates grip socks brand Sunday Pilates Club, founder of leather goods brand House of Mon
Her achievements: Having been professionally showing off her photogenic good looks and natural poise in front of the camera since 2016, this popular commercial model (agreed by Basic Models Management) is also emerging as a lifestyle entrepreneur. Four years ago, she launched House of Mon, a brand that specializes in minimalist, understated yet chic, personalizable accessories (Mon is short for monogram). The curated product line includes ultra-smart yet timeless clutches, card holders, iPhone cases, and AirPod cases, all made from all-black genuine leather. And two months ago, she added a second business to her portfolio: Sunday Pilates Club. It was a simple yet ingenious idea, where she (along with her best friend Sara Ibrahim) put a subdued, luxury-chic spin on grip socks, a product known more for being funky than fashionable. She says that within three days, the brand was at break-even point. (This may have something to do with the training she got working at her parents’ chain of neighborhood salons, where she still works as operations manager.) Of her own business, she says, “They both have something in common: bringing aesthetics into everyday life. When you look good, you feel good. Ultimately, what I want for my community is to feel confident and powerful.”
credit:Courtesy of Tanisha Khan
Tanisha Khan’s flair for quietly luxe chic is evident in the aesthetic of the businesses she runs, including House of Mon, a brand that specializes in minimalist, effortlessly chic accessories.
How she describes herself“The three words I would use are loud, driven and extroverted. I love meeting new people and I like to ride on other people’s energy.”
What is her zodiac sign? “I’m a Cancer and as many people say about this zodiac sign, I am quite sensitive and emotional. Cancerians are also known to be more creative and I agree with that 100%!”
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The story behind her brand: “Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs shaped who I am today. At the age of nine, I started working as a cashier at my parents’ salon, and that’s where my passion for business began. Watching my parents navigate the ups and downs of starting their own business taught me the true meaning of financial freedom. Ever since, I wanted to build something from the ground up and create something I could put my soul into.”
credit:Courtesy of Tanisha Khan
Tanisha Khan made waves with her grip-sock brand, Sunday Pilates Club, which she co-founded with her friend Sara Ibrahim.
Funding: “I started House of Mon with $8,000 of my own savings. That initial investment covered everything from samples to packaging, website setup and marketing. With Sunday Pilates Club, my partner and I each contributed start-up capital. I essentially started House of Mon with my savings and reinvested any profits I made back into starting Sunday. We were lucky to have invaluable business mentorship from our parents, plus we secured a government Productivity Solutions Grant which helped cover the costs of building the website.”
“Watching my parents go through the ups and downs of starting their own businesses taught me the true meaning of financial freedom. Ever since then, I wanted to build something from the ground up and create something I could put my soul into.”
Tanisha Khan
On how serious her business is: “My business partner and I are developing a five-year plan for Sunday Pilates Club, designing the next three drops, and brainstorming new Pilates accessories, while House of Mon has developed a detailed three-year plan and is in the midst of a brand image refresh.”
The first thing she bought with the money she earned“I got my dad an iPad for his birthday and my mom a pair of diamond earrings for Mother’s Day. It was such a joy to be able to buy things for my parents. The joy on their faces was priceless.”
Her typical day“Working as a model, my day is varied and my schedule can be unpredictable. On days when I don’t have any shoots, I usually wake up around 10am, get ready, go to a cafe in Joo Chiat or Katong for brunch and start checking things off my to-do list, which usually takes a few hours. I then do Pilates or yoga at my favourite studio. After my class, I buy ingredients at the supermarket and come home to cook dinner for myself and my husband. My favourite time in the evening is to sit in front of the TV and watch TV. Sex and the City I have it playing in the background while I work. I work from 9pm until late at night, or even 3am.”
How she manages her time: “You have to. It’s a huge shock when you realize you have the founder, owner, marketing team, accounting team, basically everyone it takes to run a business on your shoulders. But it’s worth it. When you’re passionate about something, nothing else matters. I’d say I split my time 80% for work, 10% for pilates and yoga, and 10% for sleep. I give 100% to my brand because I believe you get out of something only as much as the effort and love you put into it.”
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How many hours of sleep does she get each day on average? “To be honest, some days I sleep 12 hours, and some days I only sleep an hour. And on big days like launch day, my business partner and I don’t sleep at all because we do literally everything ourselves. As an entrepreneur, I have the freedom to sleep as much or as little as I want, which is great.”
The most rewarding thing in her life: “It makes me so happy when I hear people express their love for our products, especially when they buy them as gifts for loved ones… It means so much to me to know that our work is making a positive impact in people’s lives.”
credit:Courtesy of Tanisha Khan
Khan said Sunday Pilates Club broke even within three days of launching in May.
Her definition of success“Live your life in accordance with your values and aspirations. I don’t think you need to earn a million dollars to be successful. To me, success is living life on your own terms, hitting your sales goals and achieving work-life balance.”
Key lessons learned: “In any endeavor, there will be challenges. Like any business owner, I have had days when I didn’t make a dime, and that’s completely normal. It’s important to remember that people tend to flaunt their successes on social media while trying to hide their struggles. Often, what you see on social media doesn’t reflect reality at all.”
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Is school important? “I don’t have a degree, but I don’t think a degree matters when it comes to starting a business. A degree is important in professions like dentistry, medicine and engineering. But a lot of the knowledge you need in the business field is learned on the job. I’ve also learned relevant skills and tips from TikTok, Google courses, meeting other entrepreneurs and from past failures.”
“Success to me means living life on my terms, reaching my sales goals and achieving a good work-life balance.”
Tanisha Khan
Advice for other Gen Z dreamers: “Stay authentic. You’ll never know until you try. Don’t have enough money? Save up some money while working a 9-to-5 job, start small and grow from there. Embrace failure, surround yourself with good energy and celebrate your victories, no matter how small.”
What’s next: “House of Mon will be introducing new monogrammed pouches, and while we’re keeping our plans secret at Sunday Pilates Club, we will say that going forward we won’t be focusing solely on socks.”
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
photograph Lawrence Teo Art Direction Jonathan Cheah Adjustment Paige Boone hair Vanessa Drea compensate Sarah Tan uses IT Cosmetics coat Bimba y Lola
This article appeared in the July 2024 Overachievers Edition. woman
