SKIMS announced on November 12, 2025 that it has secured US$225 million in new capital, bringing its valuation to around US$5 billion. The funding round was led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives, with participation from funds affiliated with BDT & MSD Partners. Founded in 2019 by Kim Kardashian and entrepreneur Jens Grede, SKIMS originally focused on shapewear and intimates but has since expanded into lounges, apparel, and even extensions into beauty and activewear.
Growth Trajectory and Market Positioning
SKIMS is on track to exceed US$1 billion in net sales in 2025. This milestone underscores why investors are confident in the brand’s next chapter. The brand emphasizes inclusive sizing and leverages Kim Kardashian’s global following and social-media influence, factors that have contributed significantly to demand, particularly among younger consumers.
What makes SKIMS notable is also its positioning as a “celebrity-founded brand” that has rapidly grown into a serious player in the apparel and lifestyle category. With this round, its valuation overtakes some legacy brands, reflecting both cultural relevance and investor appetite for digitally-native consumer ventures.
How the Funding Will Be Used
SKIMS plans to deploy the fresh capital across several strategic pillars:
- Broaden product lines: From core shapewear to broader apparel and activewear categories.
- Expand retail footprint: While SKIMS has a digital-first heritage, the company is increasingly investing in physical retail locations in the U.S. and internationally. I
- International growth: Scaling into more global markets beyond the U.S. and Mexico franchise locations currently in operation. (Reuters)
This mix illustrates how SKIMS views itself not just as an online shapewear company, but as a full lifestyle brand with omnichannel presence and growth ambitions.
SKIMS’ rise is part of a broader trend: investors are paying attention to brands backed by high-profile founders with direct consumer appeal. The built-in audience, social-media reach, and culture-driven marketing give such brands a built-in advantage. SKIMS joins the club alongside others like Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty and Khloé Kardashian’s Good American.
The valuation leap to US$5 billion also signals how investor sentiment toward consumer-brands remains strong even in a macro-environment where growth expectations are more cautious. SKIMS’ success suggests that when a brand hits the right cultural chord and solid growth, investor capital will follow.
SKIMS’ funding round demonstrates how the fashion and apparel sector is evolving. Brands no longer need decades of heritage to command multi-billion valuations, the combination of strong storytelling, social-media mastery and product innovation is enough to draw serious capital.
For incumbents in the shapewear/intimates space, SKIMS raises the bar: inclusive sizing, direct-to-consumer distribution, cultural relevance and brand-driven growth are now table stakes. It also signals what retail investors and private-markets investors value: ecosystem, brand narrative, scalability, and global footprint potential.
In summary, SKIMS’ US$225 million raise at a US$5 billion valuation marks a major milestone not just for the company, but for the consumer-brand investing landscape. For Kim Kardashian and her co-founders, the round validates their long-term vision to turn SKIMS into a globally recognised lifestyle brand beyond shapewear.
For investors, it provides a clear signal: when a brand combines cultural relevance, product momentum and retail expansion strategy, it can achieve valuation levels previously reserved for legacy players. The key now is execution delivering on global growth, product diversification and genuine omnichannel presence.
