Phoebe Tan: From Operational Precision to Circular Fashion Building the Future of Menswear

Phoebe Tan Interview

In this exclusive conversation, Phoebe Tan shares how her deep expertise in large-scale operations, procurement, and analytics led her to build Taelor, a circular fashion platform reshaping how men consume style. From her background working with global brands like Starbucks, Amazon Go, and Singapore Airlines to launching an AI-powered clothing rental model, Phoebe discusses how technology, sustainability, and operational excellence can work together to reduce fashion waste while creating scalable profitability.

Her insights reveal the realities of building a circular business, the importance of trust and execution, and why the future of fashion is no longer about ownership, but about smarter access and multiple garment lifecycles.

Phoebe Tan

Phoebe Tan is a seasoned operations leader, entrepreneur, and sustainability advocate with more than 15 years of experience driving efficiency and multi-million-dollar savings across aviation, food operations, and retail. She has led procurement and sourcing strategies supporting companies such as Starbucks, Amazon Go, and Singapore Airlines, overseeing more than $300M in spend.

She is the Co-Founder of Taelor, a men’s clothing rental subscription platform that combines AI-driven personalization with expert styling, enabling men to look and feel their best while helping fashion brands unlock sustainable revenue through rental and resale.

From Food Operations to Circular Fashion

We began the interview by asking, “Phoebe, from food operations to circular fashion what inspired your shift?”

Phoebe Tan replied, “I am a minimalist at heart with a proven record of using the least resources to make the biggest impact on business. Irrespective of the industry I am in, my vision of success remains the same: it is about creating a positive impact for people, society, and the planet.

So, my shift from food operations to fashion came quite naturally. Fashion has one of the largest environmental footprints in the world, with nearly 30% of production going directly from factory to landfill. I saw a real opportunity here to merge my expertise in operations and analytics with my passion for sustainability.

This inspired me to launch Taelor with my Co-Founder Anya Cheng as a circular fashion platform that not only helps men achieve success by looking and feeling their best but also gives brands a sustainable business model through rental and resale.”

A Dual-Sided Platform Built for Consumers and Brands

Times CEO Magazine: Taelor’s model is often described as serving both consumers and fashion brands. How does it achieve that balance?

Phoebe Tan replied, “Taelor functions as a dual-sided platform with purpose at its core. As a men’s clothing rental subscription service with personal styling, we combine AI-driven insights with expert human styling to curate outfits that work for real lives. It’s the perfect solution for busy men. They can rent, wear, and swap with zero friction, enjoying personal style without the waste or commitment of ownership.

For brands, Taelor extends the life of every garment. Instead of relying solely on one-time sales, they gain new revenue through rental, resale, and data that informs future production. This reduces overproduction and keeps clothing in circulation longer.

Ultimately, our model supports both consumer convenience and brand profitability, while driving meaningful sustainable impact.”

The Role of AI in Scaling Personalization and Circularity

Times CEO Magazine: Technology is clearly central to Taelor. What role does AI play in the platform’s success?

Phoebe Tan replied, “AI is the backbone of Taelor. It allows us to deliver personalization at a scale traditional retail simply can’t match. Our system analyzes lifestyle needs, fit preferences, and behavioral patterns to recommend pieces that genuinely resonate with each user.

But AI’s role goes far beyond styling. It helps forecast garment lifecycles, market trends, and rotate inventory efficiently. This intelligence is critical in a circular model: it minimizes waste, maximizes value, and ensures every item lives its fullest possible life.”

Lessons from Managing Mega-Scale Operations

Times CEO Magazine: You’ve managed large-scale operations and procurement across global brands. What lessons carried over into entrepreneurship?

Phoebe Tan replied, “Leading large-scale operations taught me the power of precision. I am happy to say I have not just managed mega operations but have also driven multimillion-dollar savings through efficiency, optimization, and data insights.

I look back with great satisfaction at my 15+ years of experience across diverse industries like aviation, food operations, and retail, where I led procurement, sourcing, and operation strategy that supported companies such as Starbucks, Amazon Go, and Singapore Airlines, overseeing more than $300M in spend.

Such large-scale operations taught me the importance of discipline, continuous improvement, scalability, strong vendor relationships, and data-driven decision-making. It also taught me to blend left-brain strategy with right-brain innovation.

As an entrepreneur, those lessons became foundational. At Taelor I give equal weight to business, creativity, and sustainability. I am equally comfortable discussing fashion and finance and strive to bring both analytical rigor and creative vision to every challenge.

But the biggest lesson is this: relationships drive everything. Whether negotiating global contracts or building a startup from the ground up, trust, clarity, and partnership are what create lasting success.”

The Challenges of Building Awareness in Circular Menswear

Times CEO Magazine: What have been your biggest challenges in building Taelor?

Phoebe Tan replied, “The biggest challenge has been creating awareness. Circular fashion is still relatively new, especially in menswear. Convincing men that they don’t need to own everything in their closet, and showing brands how the rental model is profitable in so many ways, requires both awareness and trust-building.

Another challenge is managing day-to-day operations, ensuring clothes are cleaned, rotated, and delivered seamlessly while maintaining quality every single day.

But every challenge is also an opportunity. These are exactly the barriers we aim to solve with technology, creativity, and strong operations.”

What Phoebe Looks for as an Investor and Advisor

Times CEO Magazine: Beyond entrepreneurship, you’re also active as an investor and advisor. What do you look for in startups?

Phoebe Tan replied, “I look for founders who balance vision with discipline and strong execution background. It’s one thing to dream big. It’s another to turn that vision into a roadmap grounded in execution.

I also pay attention to scalability. Does the business model have the potential to grow sustainably without burning through resources?

Finally, I value adaptability and speed. Markets evolve quickly, and successful startups are those that can pivot swiftly while staying true to their mission. Personally, I’m drawn to businesses that not only solve problems but also have a positive societal or environmental impact.”

The Future of Fashion is Circular by Default

Lastly, we asked, “Phoebe, what is your vision for the future of circular fashion?”

Phoebe Tan concluded, “I believe circular fashion will become the new normal. Gen Z are driving the trend, they are value driven. They want to buy and sell. This is possible because of the growing resale platforms.

Plus, consumers are becoming increasingly conscious about sustainability, and brands can no longer ignore the environmental cost of fast fashion. And the circular monetization model is no longer a brand strategy but a growth strategy for big fashion brands such as Urban Outfitters.

The future lies in designing clothes for multiple lives, not just for sale, but also for rental, resale, and recycling.

At Taelor, our goal is to lead this shift. We want to make style effortless and impactful for the customer while helping brands embrace sustainability and circularity in a way that strengthens their business.

Ultimately, circular fashion should be accessible, desirable, and scalable, not a niche, but a norm. And we’re committed to driving that transformation globally.”

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