The CEO of Skims Called Kim Kardashian ‘the Michael Jordan of the…

Six years after launching Skims, Kim Kardashian has turned what began as a shapewear line into a multibillion-dollar brand.

The company’s latest venture, NikeSkims, debuted last month and marks a full-circle moment for the realty star’s business empire and her growing influence across sportswear and culture.

According to Skims CEO and co-founder Jens Grede, her cultural pull now rivals that of Nike’s most iconic athlete.

“Michael Jordan was such an icon — 30, 40 years ago, 15 percent of American teenagers wanted to be a professional athlete,” Grede explained to The Business of Fashion. “Today almost 20 percent of teens want to be a creator… Isn’t Kim Kardashian the Michael Jordan of the creator generation?”

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Elsewhere in the BoF story, Kim says she’s involved in all aspects of NikeSkims.

“Being employee number one and having that badge, I don’t take that lightly,” she said. “I’m the type of partner that leads by example, and I’m in it with everyone.”

She’s also hands-on with fit and comfort.

“I have all these tests that I do when we’re in our fit meetings — testing for armpit fat and back fat and just all the things that might get overlooked,” she said. “I never want to just look at images, or even fit models in person. I need to feel it myself.”

The NikeSkims launch included 58 pieces and a high-profile campaign starring Serena Williams, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Jordan Chiles.

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