• by Sarah Mahoney , Yesterday

Thanks to a new financing round led by Goldman Sachs, Skims is taking another leap. With a fresh $225 million injection, Kim Kardashian’s activewear brand now carries a $5 billion valuation. The news lands just as Nike drops the second phase of its NikeSkims partnership, adding 65 additional pieces to the buzz-building (and butt-lifting) collection.

The New York Times, which says Skims is expected to top $1 billion in sales this year, noted the new cash follows the 2023 funding round, which collected $270 million at a $4 billion valuation.

Skims intends to use the capital to expand its retail footprint — currently 18 stores in the U.S. — “laying the groundwork to be a predominantly physical business over the next few years.” It also plans to invest further in product innovation across its core intimates and shapewear business, “while further scaling its presence within apparel and activewear.”

That expansion will likely include beauty. The Times points out Skims recently reacquired part of SKKN, the Kardashian beauty venture it had previously sold to Coty, and hired Diarrha N’Diaye, founder of Ami Colé, to lead the reboot.

Kardashian founded Skims in 2019 with Jens Grede, who serves as CEO.

CNBC writes that the new capital infusion could further delay an IPO. Skims has reportedly been eyeing a public debut since at least 2024, but the consumer IPO market has cooled as investors grow more cautious around discretionary categories, including fashion and cosmetics.

Nike, meanwhile, is unwrapping Drop 2 of NikeSkims, with new sculpting pieces designed to move “from studio to street, low-impact to high-performance — while unlocking endless possibilities for layering, styling and self-expression.” The collection expands the Shine, Matte and Airy fabrics with new colors, high-contrast panels and cold-weather options.

Nike is backing the drop with a holiday campaign spotlighting elite speed skaters — Maame Biney, Kamryn Lute, Kristen Santos-Griswold and Courtney Sarault — skating on a NikeSkims-branded rink. With stills by Daniel Shea and motion by Madison McKamey, the campaign aims to “celebrate movement in all forms,” channeling Olympic energy ahead of Milan 2026.