The history of Skims: Kim Kardashian's wildly popular $4 billion shapewear line

Jennifer Ortakales DawkinsJul 21, 2023, 20:28 IST

Kim Kardashian said she might be more "covered-up" in Skims campaigns as she gets older.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Skims, the shapewear brand that Kim Kardashian owns, is worth $4 billion.
The brand sells undergarments and apparel in sizes from XXS to 5XL.

Kim Kardashian is worth an estimated $1 billion, thanks in part to her thriving business empire.

One of her companies, the shapewear brand Skims, just raised a $270 million funding round that valued the brand at $4 billion, The New York Times reported. She also launched the beauty-and-fragrance brand KKW, the skincare brand SKKN, and the private-equity firm SKKY Partners.

For the uninitiated, here's how Skims became the most revolutionary thing to happen to shapewear since Spanx.

Kim Kardashian cofounded Skims as a direct-to-consumer shapewear brand in 2019.

Kim Kardashian is a media personality, a socialite, and the owner of Skims.Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for SKIMS

Originally, the brand was going to be called Kimono. But when people complained that the name disrespected Japanese culture, Kardashian renamed it to Skims.

Kardashian's brand originally went by a different name.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Nordstrom

Behind many Kardashian brands is the power couple Jens and Emma Grede, who have developed multiple celebrity companies.

From left: Muge Erdirik Dogan, Kim Kardashian, Jens Grede, and Emma Grede.Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Skims launched in September 2019 with shapewear and underwear in sizes from XXS to 5XL.

Kardashian envisioned a shapewear brand that fit all body types, skin colors, and ages.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Nordstrom

Skims found success by focusing on body positivity and using influencers to promote its products.

Skims has tapped many celebrities, influencers, and professional athletes, such as Naomi Osaka, pictured here with Kim Kardashian.J. Lee/Getty Images for ABA

In 2020, Nordstrom was the first retailer to stock Skims products.

Nordstrom began carrying Skims products in February 2020.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Nordstrom

Skims leaned into pandemic demand for loungewear and gained a $1 billion valuation.

Skims leaned into loungewear to make up for the slumping demand for work and evening wear early in the pandemic.Skims

Skims opened its first pop-up location in Los Angeles, followed by one in Paris.

Skims opened a pop-up shop in a Paris department store.Marc Piasecki/Getty Images

Skims was the official underwear provider for Team USA at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

From left: Allyson Felix, Athing Mu, Dalilah Muhammad, and Sydney McLaughlin.Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

In 2022, Skims launched swimwear.

A bathing suit from one of Skims' swim collections.Skims

Skims raised nearly $400 million in venture-capital funding from 2019 to 2022.

Skims received venture capital at a time when the lingerie market was ripe for investment.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Nordstrom

In January, Skims introduced activewear with leggings, tanks, and bike shorts in its signature neutral tones.

Skims introduced leggings, tanks, and bike shorts in its performance-activewear collection.MEGA/Getty Images

The campaign for this year's Valentine's collection featured actors from the popular HBO show 'The White Lotus.'

Kim Kardashian posted the campaign to her Instagram account.screenshot, Instagram.com/kimkardashian/

In May, Skims opened a pop-up store in Manhattan's Rockefeller Center featuring a giant diving-board water fountain.

The Skims summer pop-up shop was located in the Channel Gardens at the Rockefeller Center in New York City.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for SKIMS

Skims is now worth $4 billion after a $270 million funding round.

Skims is expected to go public.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for SKIMS

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