Skims Eyes Global Expansion After Reaching $5 Billion Value

Published: 13 November 2025 | The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online

Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand, Skims, has reached a valuation of $5 billion (£2.93 billion) following a $225 million funding round. Investors include a unit of Wall Street giant Goldman Sachs, and the company plans to use the capital to open additional stores and expand internationally.

Kardashian described the milestone as an opportunity to “take Skims to the next level” while continuing to innovate and lead the shapewear industry. The funding round is among the largest this year for a US consumer brand and comes as Skims faces competition from rivals such as Lululemon.

Currently operating 18 stores in the US and selling through retailers worldwide, Skims intends to focus primarily on its physical retail business over the coming years. The company expects its sales to exceed $1 billion this year, a figure that chief executive Jens Grede said provides confidence to pursue long-term growth goals.

Launched in 2019 with a shapewear line, Skims has since expanded into loungewear and other fashion categories, moving further into the mainstream sports and athleisure market dominated by brands like Lululemon and Alo Yoga.

Skims has also leveraged celebrity influence to drive brand visibility, with the Kardashians, Megan Fox, and Paris Hilton among those promoting its products.

The brand has faced controversies since its launch. Its original name, Kimono Intimates, was criticised for disrespecting the cultural significance of the traditional Japanese garment, prompting a rebrand to Skims. Some of its products, such as a sleep head wrap designed for facial contouring, have drawn mixed reactions online—praised by some as innovative, while others criticised it for promoting unrealistic beauty standards.