Get Up. Kick Ass. Repeat.
This morning, I woke up to a little red notification on my personal Instagram page: Sara Blakely commented on your response.
Wait, what?! THE Sara Blakely—founder of Spanx, business icon, queen of turning a small idea into a billion-dollar empire—had read my words and took the time to reply. I nearly spilled my coffee.
Her post was about the 10 things she learned from launching her second business, Sneex, and I’d shared a comment about my own journey starting Playful Pleats. She replies to a lot of people, but still, this one hit different. As a fellow female entrepreneur (and a very distant connection through a mutual family friend), I felt seen. And more than that—I felt deeply moved.
So today, I’m writing not just as the founder of a tennis apparel brand, but as a woman reflecting on the powerful people and purpose that fuel this path.
When I started Playful Pleats, it wasn’t a strategic business decision—it was a sweaty one. I live and play tennis in Florida, where the humidity clings to you like a second skin. I couldn’t stand the feeling of wet hands mid-match, and I didn’t want to tuck a rag into my waistband like some forgotten gym towel. I wanted something functional, but cute. Something that let me wipe and win.
That’s where the idea was born: a tennis skirt with built-in towel-lined pleats. Simple. Smart. Stylish. It solved a problem for me—and, as it turns out, for a lot of other women too. I had no idea this idea would grow into a brand. And wow, the journey has been a wild one.
Growing a business is humbling. It takes longer and costs more than you think. There have been days when the obstacles felt insurmountable. But something keeps pushing me to keep showing up. Maybe it’s the messages from customers saying, “This is genius!” Maybe it’s the vision of a future where Playful Pleats is a household name among racket sport players. Maybe it’s the dream of building something bigger than a skirt. Whatever it is, I haven’t stopped yet.
And I know I wouldn’t be here without the women who have inspired me along the way.
One of those women was Suzy. She was a friend of my mom’s, but I latched onto her the second I met her at her 60th birthday party back in 2019. She was radiant—truly. Suzy had this magnetic energy that made everyone feel like the fun was just beginning. Even while battling cancer, she kept running, playing tennis, swinging her golf club, and showing us what it means to live. She was gritty. Competitive. Joyful. She wore her strength like a signature scent, and it lingers with me to this day.
Suzy's motto became our rallying cry: Get Up. Kick Ass. Repeat.
I hadn't thought about that bracelet in months. But today, with Sara Blakely’s comment blinking on my screen and Suzy on my heart, it all came rushing back. The reason I keep pushing. The reason I started Playful Pleats in the first place. It’s not just about sweat-wicking pleats or launching product drops. It’s about purpose. It’s about pride. It’s about creating something that helps women feel strong, stylish, and unstoppable—on and off the court.
And of course, I can’t write this without mentioning the woman who inspires me daily: my mom. If I inherited any of my determination, passion, or entrepreneurial fire, it’s because I watched her live it. She’s the one who taught me what hard work looks like. She’s the one who showed me how to dream big, then roll up your sleeves and do. She’s the reason I knew Suzy. And she’s the reason I keep chasing this dream, even when the days are hard.
So today, I’m standing on the shoulders of some seriously fierce women. I’m celebrating every sweaty, scrappy, beautiful moment that got me here. And I’m reminding myself (and maybe you too): whatever your passion is, share it. Don’t wait until it’s perfect. Don’t wait until you’re ready. Just get up. Kick ass. Repeat.
With love and towel-lined pleats,
Tabitha
P.S. That's Suzy on the left at her 60th Elvis themed birthday.
