Skims, the shapewear and apparel brand created by Kim Kardashian and Jens Grede, has raised $225 million in new funding and now carries a valuation of $5 billion, according to reporting from Reuters. The company announced the investment on Wednesday, marking another major step for a brand that has grown rapidly since its launch in 2019.
Kardashian’s consumer businesses, including her beauty label SKKN, continue to attract younger shoppers through a combination of celebrity reach, social media influence, and strong marketing. Venture capital firms have increasingly targeted celebrity-founded brands for those same reasons, betting that strong name recognition can accelerate sales and customer acquisition.
Recent examples reflect that trend. Earlier this year, Elf Beauty agreed to acquire Hailey Bieber’s Rhode for roughly $1 billion. Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty and Khloé Kardashian’s Good American have also secured substantial venture backing as investors look for brands with built-in audiences.
New capital will support expansion in apparel, retail and global markets
Goldman Sachs Alternatives led Skims’ latest fundraising round, with BDT & MSD Partners also participating. The company says the fresh capital will help it expand its shapewear and intimates lines, grow further into apparel and activewear, and accelerate its international and brick-and-mortar strategies.
Analysts say the investor roster strengthens the company’s long-term outlook. Eric Bellomo, senior e-commerce analyst at PitchBook, told Reuters the deal reinforces Skims’ positioning as a strong candidate for a future public offering. The brand expects to surpass $1 billion in net sales in 2025, signaling strong retail momentum despite a competitive apparel environment.
Skims has made moves to consolidate its brand ecosystem. Earlier this year, Coty sold a 20 percent stake in Kardashian’s beauty business to Skims, bringing the beauty and apparel divisions under one umbrella. The company has also partnered with Nike to launch new activewear for women.
Bellomo said the brand strategy leverages Kardashian’s global reach while building distribution advantages through partnerships and retail expansion. The recent integration of SKKN supports a combined lifestyle and fashion approach that ties together beauty, apparel, and branding.
Skims currently operates 18 stores in the United States and two franchise locations in Mexico. The company says it aims to shift toward being a predominantly physical retail business over the next several years as it expands globally.
