The Inclusive Revolution Inside SKIMS

Spotlight

Insider Profile

I 2025 I DEEP DIVE INSIDER PROFILES

SKIMS operates with an internal philosophy as seamless as their signature bodywear—a culture where radical inclusivity meets meticulous execution, where diverse voices drive innovation rather than follow it, and where vulnerability is considered a business asset rather than a liability. Founded on the principle that personal experiences should inform professional solutions, the company has created a workplace that mirrors its product ethos: supportive, adaptive, and designed to let individuals show up authentically, regardless of title, background, or body type.

It's 8:30 AM at SKIMS headquarters in Los Angeles, and the morning sunshine streams through floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating a space that feels more like a creative studio than a traditional office. Team members drift in wearing various pieces from current and upcoming collections—not as a corporate requirement but as a living lab for product testing. Some items are pinned or marked with notes; others are being worn in unconventional ways, challenging the design team's original intentions. "We call it 'wearing your work,'" explains Tara Chen, a product development manager who has been with the company since its 2019 launch. She points to subtle markings on the waistband of her sculpting shorts. "These are prototype adjustments from my team. I've been wearing this sample for three days to test the comfort during different activities." She laughs. "Including that hour-long budget meeting yesterday, which was its own endurance test."

From Personal Problem to Cultural Mission

The origin of SKIMS' distinctive culture traces directly to founder Kim Kardashian's personal frustrations with shapewear. Those early dissatisfactions—limited shade ranges, uncomfortable materials, pieces that didn't work under certain outfits—evolved from product problems into cultural pillars. "Kim didn't just want to create better shapewear," says Marcus Thompson, one of SKIMS' earliest employees. "She wanted to create a better environment for developing it. That meant building a team where people could be honest about their bodies and their needs."

This foundation of personal authenticity manifests in the company's approach to everything from meetings to marketing. In the center of their main workspace stands what employees affectionately call the "Solution Wall"—a constantly evolving display where team members post photos of clothing challenges alongside potential SKIMS solutions. The wall features real fitting issues experienced by employees, their families, and customers, creating a visual reminder of the problems they're solving. "Nothing goes on our website or social channels without first being road-tested by our internal community," says Leila Washington, who leads the company's digital content team. "If something doesn't work for one of our team members—if it rolls, pinches, shows lines, whatever—we go back to the drawing board. No exceptions."

The Body-Positive Meeting Culture

SKIMS has developed meeting rituals that reflect their body-positive ethos. Gatherings often begin with what they call a "comfort check"—a quick moment for attendees to adjust clothing, change positions, or grab supportive cushions without judgment. "It sounds small, but it fundamentally changes the meeting dynamic," explains David Park, a senior operations manager. "When you start by acknowledging physical comfort, it creates space for emotional comfort too. People speak more freely when they're not subtly adjusting uncomfortable clothing or sitting in pain."

This awareness extends to the physical environment. Meeting rooms feature various seating options rather than identical chairs. Standing desks, balance ball chairs, and cushioned floor seating allow for different posture preferences. One conference room—nicknamed "The Nest"—has abandoned traditional seating entirely in favor of a conversation pit with adjustable cushions. The most revealing aspect of SKIMS' meeting culture is their "body language translator"—a rotating role assigned to one team member who is empowered to point out when someone's physical discomfort might be misconstrued as disinterest or disagreement.

"I realized in early team meetings that when people were physically uncomfortable, they were less likely to contribute ideas," says Emma Rodriguez, a design director. "Someone shifting in their chair might look disengaged, but actually they're just trying to get comfortable. Our translator role helps distinguish between 'I'm uncomfortable with this idea' and 'I'm uncomfortable in my seat.'"

The Fitting Room Approach to Feedback

Perhaps the most distinctive element of SKIMS' culture is their approach to feedback, modeled after the intimacy and honesty of conversations in fitting rooms. "Think about the vulnerability of a good fitting room experience," says Michael Lee, who leads the company's people team. "You're literally exposed, but with the right associate, you feel safe enough to hear truth about how something looks or fits. That's the feedback environment we're creating professionally."

This philosophy manifests in their performance review system, which they call "Fittings." Rather than annual reviews, team members participate in monthly one-on-one conversations structured around three questions: What fits perfectly right now? What needs adjustment? What should we try next?

The process emphasizes collaborative problem-solving over evaluation. Managers aren't just giving feedback—they're working with team members to "tailor" solutions that fit their unique strengths and challenges. "In my previous job, feedback felt like judgment," says Sophia Williams, a junior marketing associate. "Here, it feels like we're both trying to find the right fit. My manager actually said to me once, 'This role isn't fitting you right yet—let's adjust the seams until it does.' That completely changed how I viewed my early struggles."

The Size-Inclusive Talent Philosophy

SKIMS' commitment to size inclusivity extends beyond their product line to their approach to talent. The company deliberately builds teams with diverse professional backgrounds, recruiting from industries beyond fashion and beauty. "We have former architects working in product design, ex-therapists in customer service, and people from healthcare informing our size development," notes Thompson. "Traditional fashion experience is just one type of expertise we value." This perspective informs their hiring process, which they've termed "Range Finding." Candidates interview with team members across departments and levels, with each evaluator assessing different aspects of potential contribution.

"We're trying to understand a person's full range, not just their resume skills," Lee explains. "Can they stretch in different directions as we grow? Do they bring perspectives we're missing? Will they expand our thinking?" The company tracks the diversity of thought in meetings, measuring not just who speaks but whose ideas influence outcomes. A dedicated Slack channel called #unexpected-inspirations encourages team members to share influences from outside the fashion world that could inform their work. "Yesterday someone posted about how grocery store layout principles could improve our website navigation," Washington says. "That's exactly the cross-pollination of ideas we're looking for."

Unfiltered Authenticity in Practice

At 2 PM on Thursdays, SKIMS holds what might be their most revealing cultural ritual: "Unfiltered" sessions where team members share personal experiences with products—both successes and failures—in a judgment-free zone. During a recent session, a marketing team member modeled a new bodysuit while discussing how its compression triggered unexpected anxiety related to a past eating disorder. Rather than rushing to solve the problem, the team created space for a broader conversation about the emotional aspects of shapewear. This led to a new approach for describing compression levels in product descriptions and training for customer service representatives on handling similar concerns from customers. "That session changed how we talk about our products," says Rodriguez. "We now acknowledge that even the most technically perfect garment can create complex feelings for the wearer. That awareness makes our design and marketing more nuanced."

The Unfiltered sessions reflect SKIMS' belief that vulnerability drives innovation. By creating space for difficult conversations about bodies, the company surfaces insights that more polished interactions might miss. "Most fashion companies stay on the surface—literally and figuratively," notes Chen. "We're willing to go deeper, to talk about chafing and sweat and insecurities. That's uncomfortable sometimes, but it leads to better solutions."

The Results Beyond Revenue

While SKIMS' cultural approach has contributed to their explosive growth and billion-dollar valuation, team members point to less quantifiable impacts as evidence of success.

Employee retention at SKIMS outpaces industry averages by significant margins, with team members citing the supportive environment as their primary reason for staying. The company has maintained its startup agility despite rapid growth, launching new categories and responding to market feedback with unusual speed. "We can move quickly because we trust each other enough to be wrong sometimes," explains Park. "When you've seen colleagues be vulnerable about their bodies and experiences, admitting a business mistake doesn't feel so scary."

This psychological safety translates into innovation. The company's internal idea submission platform sees participation rates above 80%, with suggestions coming from every department and level. Several of their most successful products originated from staff members who don't work in design or product development. "Our shipping coordinator noticed her grandmother struggling with traditional shapewear and sketched a solution with easier closures," shares Thompson. "That became one of our bestselling pieces for older customers. Those insights only emerge when people feel their personal experiences matter professionally."

Growing Pains and Adaptations

SKIMS' culture isn't without challenges. As the company has grown from a small team to hundreds of employees across multiple locations, maintaining the intimate, feedback-rich environment has required deliberate effort. "Scale tests authenticity," acknowledges Lee. "We're constantly asking ourselves: how do we preserve these connections as we get bigger?"

Their solution has been to create smaller "body groups"—cross-functional teams of 10-15 people who meet regularly to maintain the close-knit feeling of the company's early days. These groups rotate quarterly, ensuring that team members build relationships across the organization.

Technology plays a role too. The company has developed a custom internal platform called "Seams" where employees can share product experiences, body-related challenges, and solutions. The platform's anonymity options allow for honesty about sensitive issues while still capturing valuable insights. "Some conversations are too personal for a meeting but too important to miss," explains Washington. "Seams gives us another channel for those insights."

The Daily Embodiment

As the workday winds down, team members gather for an optional end-of-day stretch session in the open central area. Led by different employees each day, these few minutes of movement reflect SKIMS' holistic approach to bodies—acknowledging that sitting at desks affects how people feel in their skin. What's striking isn't the activity itself but the atmosphere: senior executives stretch alongside new hires, conversations about weekend plans mix with discussions of tomorrow's deliverables, and no one seems concerned about looking graceful or polished.

"This is SKIMS culture distilled," says Rodriguez, reaching toward the ceiling in a side stretch. "We're all just bodies trying to feel good while doing our best work. Everything else—the products, the marketing, the business results—flows from that fundamental respect."

As team members filter out for the day, some heading to evening commitments while others stay to work on upcoming launches, the sense of shared purpose remains palpable. In creating a workplace that honors the body's complexities, SKIMS has built more than a trendy corporate culture—they've created an environment where personal authenticity and professional excellence aren't competing priorities but complementary strengths. "We make products that help people feel comfortable in their skin," reflects Thompson as the office quiets. "We had to build a company where we could do the same."

Daily

Leading insights from the most influential companies and company cultures of our time

Maya Daily Newsletter

Join over 500,000 monthly readers and subscribe to receive the latest global insights & news for free.