Skims is now valued at $5 billion after raising $225 million, per The New York Times. The company plans to use the funds to open stores in international markets, grow its intimates and shapewear lines, and expand into other categories. The fundraising round cements Skims’ status as the buzziest brand in undergarments. The company is now valued at nearly twice as much as Victoria’s Secret, despite having less than one-sixth of its revenues. While Victoria’s Secret has struggled to find a middle ground between sex appeal and comfort, Skims has managed to do both—earning customers’ loyalty in the process.
Shoppers will be able to buy the much-hyped Nike-Skims collaboration starting Friday, seven months after the partnership was announced. While an unusual pairing on paper, the collaboration between Nike and Skims plays to both companies’ strengths, and positions the new brand to become an athletic powerhouse. The collection’s versatility and innovation are likely to appeal to consumers who want both performance and style from their clothing—as well as those who lean more heavily toward either.
The situation: Nike’s turnaround will likely take some time. In FYQ4, the company’s sales fell 12% YoY (11% on a constant-currency basis), reflecting what CFO Matthew Friend called the “largest financial impact” from the company’s reset strategy. Still, he expressed confidence that “headwinds will moderate from here,” emphasizing Nike’s focus on execution and controlling what it can. Our take: Turning around a company the size of Nike is like trying to turn around an ocean liner in rough waters. Change takes time, especially amid headwinds like tariffs and shaky demand, and execution missteps keep dragging on performance. Nike is adjusting course—leaning back into wholesale, cleaning up its inventory, and getting more surgical with product drops—but calm seas are still a ways off.
Nike partners with Skims to launch women’s activewear brand: NikeSKIMS combines the former’s performance expertise with the latter’s form-fitting style and emphasis on inclusivity.
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