Skims

Kim Kardashian co-founded Skims in 2019 with entrepreneurs Jens Grede and Emma Grede, and she co-owns it with them. Kardashian is the face and creative driver, but the Gredes are the business operators who built her vision into a real company. It is privately held and backed by investors, and it has been valued in the billions, making Skims a major part of Kardashian's wealth, not just a celebrity side project.

Skims started as a shapewear brand and expanded into a full range: underwear, loungewear, bras, swimwear, and even menswear. Its whole pitch is solutions-focused, skin-tone-inclusive basics in a wide range of sizes (it launched with sizing up to plus). The look is minimal, second-skin, and neutral-toned. So it is part shapewear, part everyday underwear and loungewear brand, basics designed to fit and flatter a broad range of bodies.

For the core products, most reviews say yes. The shapewear, the soft loungewear, and the bras are generally praised for fit, comfort, and that smooth second-skin feel, and the inclusive size and shade range is a genuine strength. It is priced as a premium brand, not budget, so you are paying more than fast-fashion basics. Not every item is essential, but the bestsellers, the shapewear and the loungewear sets, tend to earn their reputation.

Mostly, but with a catch: a lot of Skims pieces are designed to be snug and stretchy, so the 'right' size depends on the product and the look you want. Shapewear is meant to compress, the soft loungewear is more relaxed, and the brand offers a wide size range with a fit quiz to help. The common advice from shoppers is to check the specific product's reviews and size guidance rather than assume one size works across the whole range, because fit varies by line.

Skims, like most large clothing brands, manufactures through a global supply chain rather than in one place, production is spread across various countries depending on the product. The brand is American (Los Angeles-based) in identity and design, but the garments themselves are made by manufacturing partners abroad, which is standard for apparel at this scale. Exact factory locations vary by item and aren't always front-and-centre.

Skims has been valued at around 4 billion dollars in funding rounds, making it one of Kardashian's biggest assets and a major reason she is a reported billionaire. Her wealth comes from several sources, Skims, her earlier KKW Beauty/SKKN ventures, media and endorsements, but Skims is the largest and fastest-growing piece. So yes, Skims is central to her billionaire status, even if it's not the only driver. Exact figures vary since the company is private.

It is priced like a premium basics brand, and whether that's 'overpriced' depends on what you compare it to. You can buy cheaper shapewear and loungewear elsewhere, and critics point that out. But fans argue the fit, fabric feel, size inclusivity, and durability justify the price over flimsier fast-fashion versions. It is not luxury-tier expensive, but it is clearly above budget basics, you are paying a premium for the fit and the brand, which some find worth it and others don't.