Kim Kardashian’s label is designing Team USA’s Tokyo Olympics loungewear and sleepwear
Kim Kardashian’s intimates brand Skims is headed to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics as it partners with Team USA to design the athletes’ undergarments, sleepwear and loungewear.
After being plagued with postponements since last year, the Olympics is finally right around the corner, set for July 23 to Aug. 8.
The reality TV star announced the partnership on social media, giving her followers a sneak peek of the collaboration’s womenswear collection.
The pieces in the teaser include bra and underwear sets, boxers, cycle shorts, high-waisted briefs and more, in neutral tones. Each piece is printed with white a outline of the American flag, the Olympic rings and Team USA branding.
For the collaboration’s campaign, Kardashian tapped the following athletes to model its pieces: soccer player Alex Morgan, basketball player A’Ja Wilson, Paralympic track and field athlete Scout Bassett, track and field gold medalist Dalilah Muhammad, and swimmer Haley Anderson.
In her announcement, Kardashian said her appreciation for the Olympics came from her former stepparent Caitlyn Jenner, who was an Olympic gold medal-winning decathlete.
She recalled that as a child, she and her family would go to different cities for Jenner’s Olympic trials and track meets when her mother Kris was married to the retired athlete.
“As I would watch the athletes compete, I would grow to understand the dedication and honor being a part of the Olympics embodied,” she wrote.
“When I received the call inviting Skims to be part of Team USA, every moment I’ve spent admiring the strength and energy of the Olympians from the sidelines came full circle,” Kardashian said.
The same pieces made for the Team USA will be available as a limited edition capsule collection at Skims’ online store.
Kardashian’s brand Skims was initially named Kimono when it was launched in 2019. This sparked outrage in Japan, with Kardashian being accused of cultural appropriation following the release of her line of intimates, which shares the same name with the traditional Japanese ethnic dress.
Kyoto Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa urged Kardashian to reconsider using Kimono in her trademark brand. “We think the names for ‘Kimono’ are the asset shared with all humanity who love Kimono and its culture, therefore they should not be monopolized,” he said.
A few days later, Kardashian issued a statement saying after careful thought and consideration, she would be launching her brand under a new name. She also said her brands and products “are built with inclusivity at their core” and that she named her products “with the best intentions in mind.”
Banner and thumbnail photos from @Skims on Instagram