Skims – the apparel and shapewear brand co‑founded by Kim Kardashian – has secured a $225 million funding round led by Goldman Sachs Alternatives and other investors, driving the company’s valuation to approximately $5 billion.
Founded in 2019, Skims has grown quickly and is now projecting to surpass $1 billion in annual net sales in 2025. It currently operates roughly 18 U.S. stores and two locations in Mexico, and plans to expand significantly its physical retail footprint in the near term.
The broader industry significance is clear: a celebrity‑anchored brand is scaling from direct‑to‑consumer into omnichannel and retail store growth, moving beyond online virality into real‑world presence. Skims identifies physical stores as “single biggest growth lever” for the brand.
In addition, the company is diversifying from its initial shapewear category into activewear (in partnership with Nike) and integrating its beauty line (SKKN by Kim) under the same umbrella, further amplifying its omnichannel and multi‑category ambitions.
For the omnichannel retail landscape, Skims’ trajectory underscores how new‑era brands leverage social‑media‑driven demand, celebrity equity, and physical retail expansion in tandem. The challenge now lies in translating high valuation and store growth into consistent profitability and brand longevity—especially in a competitive apparel market crowded with established players.
