How This Singapore Model Launched Businesses Focused On Chic Everyday Essentials
Tanisha Khan is committed to elevating everyday life with aesthetics and chicness through her businesses, Sunday Pilates Club and House of Mon.
Who: Tanisha Khan, 26, model, entrepreneur, co-founder of the pilates grip sock brand Sunday Pilates Club, and founder of the leather goods brand House of Mon
Her achievements: This popular commercial model who’s been flexing her photogenic good looks and natural poise for the camera professionally since 2016 (she’s represented by Basic Models Management) is turning out to be quite the lifestyle entrepreneur too. Four years ago, she started House of Mon, a brand specialising in minimalist, understatedly chic accessories that can be personalised (the Mon stands for monogram). The tightly edited product range includes hyper-slick yet timeless clutches, cardholders, iPhone cases and AirPod cases, all crafted from all-black genuine leather. Then two months ago, she added a second business to her portfolio: Sunday Pilates Club – a simple yet ingenious idea in which she (along with her best friend Sarah Ibrahim) lends her taste for quiet luxury-chic to grip socks, a product that’s known to be more, er, funky than fashionable. Within three days, the brand broke even, she says. (That might have something to do with the training she’s gotten from working at her parents’ chain of neighbourhood salons – she still works there as its director of operations.) Of her businesses, she says: “Both share a common thread: bringing aesthetics into everyday life. When you look good, you feel good. Ultimately, that's what I want for my community: to feel confident and empowered.”
Tanisha Khan's knack for quiet luxury chic is evident in the aesthetic of the business she runs, which includes House of Mon, a brand specialising in minimalist, subtly chic accessories.
How she describes herself: “Three words I would use would be loud, driven and outgoing. I love meeting new people and I ride off other people’s energy.”
What’s her star sign? “I’m a Cancerian, and I’d say – true to what many say about this star sign – I’m pretty sensitive and emotional. Cancerians are also known to be more creative and I agree with that 100 per cent!”
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The story behind her brand: “Growing up in a household full of entrepreneurs has shaped me into the woman I am today. I started as a cashier at my parents’ salon at the age of nine, and that’s when my passion for business began. Watching my parents navigate the highs and lows of entrepreneurship taught me the true meaning of financial freedom. Since then, I’ve wanted to build something from scratch and something of my own that I can pour my soul into.”
Tanisha Khan generated buzz for her brand of grip socks, Sunday Pilates Club, which she co-founded with her friend Sarah Ibrahim.
On funding: “I started House of Mon with $8,000 from my savings. That initial investment went into everything from samples to packaging, setting up the website setup and marketing. For Sunday Pilates Club, my partner and I each chipped in some startup capital – essentially I bootstrapped House of Mon using my savings and then reinvested the profits from there to launch Sunday. We have been fortunate to receive invaluable business guidance from our parents. On top of that, we secured a Productivity Solutions Grant from the government, which helped cover the costs of building our website.”
On how serious her businesses are: “My business partner and I have a five-year plan for Sunday Pilates Club, have designed our next three drops and are brainstorming new Pilates accessories. Meanwhile House of Mon is in the midst of a brand makeover with a detailed three-year plan in place.”
The first thing she bought with her earnings: “An iPad for my dad for his birthday and diamond earrings for Mother’s Day for my mum. To have been able to buy something for my parents was so rewarding. Seeing the joy on their faces was priceless.”
A typical day in her life: “My day varies as I work as a model and that means my schedule can be unpredictable. On days when I don’t have shoots though, I usually wake up at around 10 am, get ready then make my way to a cafe in Joo Chiat or Katong to get some brunch and start checking off my to-do list. This usually takes me a few hours. I then head to my favourite studio for Pilates or yoga. After class, I tend to get ingredients from the supermarket then head home to make dinner for my husband and myself. My favourite part of the night is sitting in front of the TV, putting on Sex and The City and doing work while it plays in the background. I continue my work from around 9pm till midnight or even as late as 3am.”
How she manages her time: “Girl, I have to. It hits when you realise you’re carrying a whole business on your shoulders – you’re founder, owner, marketing team, accounting team, basically everyone needed to run it. It’s worth it though. When you have so much passion for something, nothing else really matters. I’d say I split up my time into 80 per cent for work, 10 per cent pilates and yoga and 10 per cent sleep. I believe that you’ll get back from something the same amount of effort and love that you put into it, so I give my 100 per cent to my brands.”
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How many hours of sleep she gets daily on average: “To be honest, it can be as much as 12 hours on some days and just one hour on others. And on big days such as launch day, my business partner and I don’t sleep at all because we literally do everything ourselves. Being an entrepreneur gives me the freedom to sleep as much or as little as I want to, which is great.”
The most rewarding aspect of her life: “It brings me immense joy to hear people express their love for our products, especially when they’re purchasing them as gifts for loved ones… Knowing that our creations are making a positive impact in people’s lives means so much to me.”
According to Khan, Sunday Pilates Club broke even within three days of its launch in May.
Her definition of success: “Living authentically and in alignment with my values and desires. I don’t think I need to make a million dollars to be successful. Success to me means living life on my terms, reaching my targeted sales and having a good work-life balance.”
Important lessons learnt: “Every endeavour comes with challenges. Like any business owner, I've had days when I don’t make a single cent – and that’s perfectly normal. It’s important to remember that people tend to showcase their successes on social media while concealing their struggles. What you see on social media often doesn’t reflect reality at all.”
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Is school important? “I don’t have a degree and I feel it doesn’t matter when it comes to starting a business. It’s important to have a degree for professions such as dentistry, medicine and engineering. A lot of what you need to know if you’re in the business field though is picked up from being on the ground. I’ve also learned relevant skills and tips from TikTok, Google courses, meeting other entrepreneurs and past failures.”
Advice for other Gen Z dreamers: “Stay authentic and you never know until you try. Not enough cash to do so? Save up money from doing a nine-to-five job, start small and build up from there. Embrace failure, surround yourself with good energy and celebrate your wins, no matter how small.”
What’s next: “Expect new monogrammed pouches at House of Mon. Over at Sunday Pilates Club, we’re keeping plans a secret, but let’s just say we won’t be focusing only on socks in the future.”
THIS INTERVIEW HAS BEEN EDITED FOR CLARITY AND BREVITY.
PHOTOGRAPHY LAWRENCE TEO ART DIRECTION JONATHAN CHIA COORDINATION PAIGE BOON HAIR & MAKEUP SARAH TAN, USING IT COSMETICS
A version of this article first appeared in the July 2024 Overachievers Edition of FEMALE