
Ruhaan Jain wears a lightweight performance quarter-zip from his Panda Collection, part of his clothing brand, Speerotee. He is holding “Sketch Smash,” the book he wrote and illustrated.
The founder of the e-commerce clothing brand Speerotee said he draws inspiration for his designs from the things he loves.
On the company website, the designer champions the idea that his clothing is meant to celebrate the liveliness and uniqueness of the individuals who wear it.
The tag line “An investment in fashion is an investment in self-confidence” appears on the top of the page.
The entrepreneur behind the business also is a published author.
And he is 10 years old.
Ruhaan Jain is a fourth grader at Hopkins School who has an app and an opinion article he wants published as side gigs. He also plays chess competitively and enjoys soccer and reading in his spare time.
His ambition comes as no surprise to his father, Chandra Manish, who recalled Ruhaan randomly asking one day to buy gum at a gas station.
Shortly after, his son came home with $25, having sold the gum to his classmates.
“He is always thinking about profit margins,” Chandra said. “Even when we are dining out, he will ask questions and show interest in what the restaurant could be making.”
Chandra described Ruhaan as “very gifted,” and pointed out that while he might spend hours trying to solve one cube, his son could finish combinations within 10-15 seconds.
Ruhaan’s entrepreneurial spirit kicked in when he started a YouTube channel as a soccer fan, “creating content with little input” from anyone else, according to his father.
When the youngster attracted enough views to receive checks from it, Chandra said his son announced he wanted to create his own clothing line.
“I thought, ‘If I didn’t like my clothes, how many other people feel the same way,’ ” Ruhaan noted.
Last June, Ruhaan crafted his own brand of jackets, T-shirts, hoodies, shoes and shorts for children, teens and adults. Ruhaan made an online store (speerotee.com) to sell his creations — featuring lines with a panda or phoenix, for example, with new items such as signatures and pastels arriving soon, according to the site.
The fourth grader said the brand name Speerotee holds no special meaning but was chosen “randomly.”
Ruhaan started getting the word out about his clothing store at school, where he delivered a presentation about it. He said he relies on advertising “with good SEO” and Instagram to bring customers to his business.
During the two months he spent designing his brand, Ruhaan said he kept in mind ways to make his clothes different from what is sold at “tons of other stores.”
Late last year, he wrote and illustrated a book called “Sketch Smash” through Amazon, which describes the collection of comics as “a zany mix of characters” with “quick humor and visual gags.”
A review of the 58-page paperback, also available on Kindle, states: “It’s super fun, packed with bright, colorful pics! Perfect for anyone who loves a good, witty sense of humor.”
Chandra said Ruhaan’s “contagious energy,” inspired him to self-publish a book of his own, admitting that the process is not easy.
Of his son’s various ventures, Chandra added, “He keeps busy for sure.”
Chandra, a dentist, and his wife, Shriti Shah, a corporate attorney, are mindful that Ruhaan does not get overwhelmed or stressed out by all his endeavors.
Noting Ruhaan did not take feedback from his parents regarding his designs, Chandra advised parents of gifted children to “closely watch them … but let them follow their passion.”
“Parents know their kid best,” Chandra said. “They will lead you. …We treat him as an individual and let him decide, and it is working out.”
Along with everything else, Ruhaan attends an advanced math class. Chandra added, “As soon as it is not all fun for him, we’ll call it a day.”
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