What is Skims?
A solutions-oriented apparel brand spanning shapewear, underwear, loungewear, activewear, menswear, and beauty.
- Category
- Apparel and shapewear
- Headquarters
- Culver City / Hollywood, CA
- Founded
- 2019
- Employees
- 51-200 listed; 1,500+ profiles
- Total funding
- $900M+ reported
- Valuation
- $5B (Nov 2025)
What is Skims?
Skims is Kim Kardashian, Jens Grede, and Emma Grede's apparel brand, best known for shapewear, underwear, loungewear, and body-first basics. It has expanded into menswear, activewear partnerships, physical retail, and beauty.
Skims launched in 2019 with inclusive shapewear and skin-tone basics, then expanded into bras, underwear, sleep, lounge, swim, menswear, and collaborations such as NikeSKIMS. Public coverage says the company generated about $750 million in 2023 sales, became profitable in 2023, and expected to surpass $1 billion in 2025 net sales.
The company sits at the intersection of celebrity demand, product fit, drop culture, and scaled apparel operations. Its 2025 financing valued Skims at $5 billion, above many public apparel peers, and funded a push into physical stores, global expansion, and new categories including beauty and fragrance.
What does Skims offer?
Skims sells shapewear, underwear, loungewear, apparel, menswear, swim, activewear collaborations, accessories, and beauty-related extensions.
- Shapewear· Core apparel
- Underwear· Core apparel
- Bras· Core apparel
- Loungewear· Lifestyle
- Menswear· Expansion
- Swim· Seasonal
- NikeSKIMS· Activewear partnership
- Skims Beauty· Beauty
How does Skims make money?
Skims makes money through direct ecommerce, owned retail stores, wholesale partners, limited drops, collaborations, and category expansion.
Skims is primarily a premium DTC and retail apparel business. Public product pricing varies by line, but underwear is commonly in the high-teens to $30 range, bras often sit around $36-$68, shapewear bodysuits often reach $60-$100+, and lounge or outerwear can be higher. The business model depends on gross margin, inventory turns, drop cadence, fit consistency, returns management, and cultural demand.
The next growth layer is physical retail and category expansion. The November 2025 raise positioned Skims to expand stores and move further into beauty and global markets. That shifts the operating model from launch-led ecommerce toward omnichannel planning, store design, international logistics, and category-specific product development.
Who leads Skims?
Skims is led by co-founder and CEO Jens Grede, with Kim Kardashian as co-founder and creative force and Emma Grede as founding partner/chief product leader.
- Jens GredeCo-founder & CEOSince 2019Runs Skims' strategy, operations, and expansion; also known for Frame and Popular Culture.
- Kim KardashianCo-founderSince 2019Core creative, brand, and demand-generation force behind Skims.
- Emma GredeFounding partner / Chief Product OfficerSince 2019Product and inclusive-fit leader also known for Good American.
- Diarrha N'Diaye-MbayeExecutive VP, BeautyJoined after Skims Beauty expansionFounder of Ami Cole, brought in to lead beauty category expansion.
How do you contact Skims' leadership?
Skims publishes customer support, legal, and service channels. Clay reports a first-dot-last email pattern, but personal executive emails are not company-published, so use public company aliases unless independently verified.
first.last@skims.com reported by Clay; personal emails not company-publishedSources:Skims contactSkims terms
How much funding has Skims raised?
Skims has raised more than $900 million reported across major rounds, most recently a $225 million raise in November 2025 at a $5 billion valuation.
Skims started with a small seed round in 2019, followed by larger institutional rounds as revenue scaled. Forge describes an early nearly $4 million seed round, then more than $150 million of Series A/A-1 financing in 2021 that helped push the company into unicorn territory. In July 2023, Skims raised $330 million at a $4 billion valuation after rapid sales growth.
The latest major confirmed financing was November 2025: a $225 million capital raise led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives with participation from funds affiliated with BDT & MSD Partners, valuing Skims at $5 billion. Tracxn reports more than $900 million total funding, though database totals may include round classifications and amounts that differ from press-release labels. Skims remains private and has not announced an IPO date.
How did Skims get here?
Skims scaled from shapewear launch to a multi-category, omnichannel apparel company valued at $5 billion.
- 2019Skims launchesKim Kardashian, Jens Grede, and Emma Grede launch the shapewear and basics brand.
- 2021Unicorn financingSeries A/A-1 financing reportedly values Skims around $1.6B.
- 2023$330M Series C at $4BSkims raises a major round and reports rapid revenue growth.
- Oct 2023Menswear expansionSkims launches men's underwear, tees, and socks.
- 2024Retail expansionSkims opens permanent stores and expands wholesale and partnership visibility.
- Nov 2025$225M raise at $5BGoldman Sachs Alternatives leads new capital for stores, global expansion, and new categories.
Who are Skims' competitors?
Skims competes with shapewear, intimates, activewear, and premium basics brands across DTC, wholesale, and retail channels.
- SpanxOriginal shapewear specialist with broad retail awareness and a mature product line.
- Victoria's SecretLarge intimates incumbent with stores, bras, underwear, and beauty.
- Savage X FentyCelebrity-led intimates brand centered on inclusivity and membership commerce.
- AerieAmerican Eagle's body-positive intimates and activewear brand with mall and online reach.
- HoneyloveDTC shapewear brand focused on sculpting garments and comfort-led fit.
- lululemonPremium activewear leader that overlaps with Skims' performance and lifestyle basics ambitions.
Skims — frequently asked questions
