Kim Kardashian reveals her SKIMS brand has designed Team USA’s official UNDERGARMENTS

Kim Kardashian is lending her design skills to this years Olympics, announcing on social media today that her SKIMS brand will provide the official underwear, pajamas, and loungewear for Team USA’s athletes. 

Kim, 40, revealed the big news on Instagram and Twitter today, sharing her excitement over the special collection along with photos of the pieces being modeled by sports superstars like Alex Morgan and A’ja Wilson.

She also noted that the Olympics have a special place in her heart after growing up hearing all about the Games from her stepdad, gold medalist Caitlyn Jenner.

Star power: Kim, 40, shared her excitement over the special collection along with photos of the pieces being modeled by sports superstars like soccer player Alex Morgan (pictured)

Ta-da! Track and field champ Dalilah Muhammad models some of the collection, which includes underwear, sports bras, and leggings

Hangin’ out: Swimmer Haley Anderson also showcased a few of the pieces, which also include tank tops and socks, with Kim revealing that the collection will be available for sale 

‘I am honored to announce that @skims is designing the official team USA undergarments, pajamas and lounge wear for the athletes this year in Tokyo,’ she wrote, adding that the same pieces will also be available for the public to buy online as part of a special a capsule collection, which will launch on July 12. 

The first photos of the designs show high-waisted women’s underwear and sports bras, boxers, shorts, tank tops, leggings, socks, and T-shirts, all in neutral tones like beige, gray, white, and navy.

They bear images of the American flag and the Olympic logo, as well as the words ‘Team USA.’

It is not clear how much the pieces will retail for when they go on sale, however SKIMS’ current undergarment line-up ranges in price from $18 for a simple thong to $52 for a push-up bra. 

Kim even enlisted several big-name Team USA athletes to model the designs for a new campaign, including soccer star Alex Morgan, WNBA star A’ja Wilson, Paralympian Scout Bassett, track and field champ Dalilah Muhammad, and swimmer Haley Anderson. 

Go team go! The first photos of the designs show shorts, tank tops, leggings, socks, and T-shirts, all in neutral tones like beige, gray, white, and navy

Patriotic: They bear images of the American flag and the Olympic logo, as well as the words ‘Team USA’ (pictured: WNBA star A’ja Wilson)

For the fans: The items, including those modeled by Paralympian Scout Bassett, will be available to purchase online, however the brand has not yet shared pricing 

On Instagram, Kim went on to explain why she feels so personally connected to the Games, referencing her stepfather Caitlyn Jenner — who took home gold for the decathlon at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

‘Ever since I was 10 years old, I’ve heard every single detail about the Olympics from my stepdad,’ she wrote.

‘As I would watch the athletes compete, I would grow to understand the dedication and honor being a part of the Olympics embodied. 

‘I traveled [with] my stepdad and family to all different cities for the Olympic trials, the Olympics and track meets of @caitlynjenner’s and at every stop I would buy an Olympic T-shirt as a souvenir.

‘When I received the call inviting Skims to be a part of @TeamUSA, every moment I’ve spent admiring the strength and energy of the Olympians from the sidelines came full circle.’ 

‘I am honored to announce that @skims is designing the official team USA undergarments, pajamas and lounge wear for the athletes this year in Tokyo,’ Kim wrote

Special: On Instagram, Kim went on to explain why she feels so personally connected to the Games

‘When I received the call inviting Skims to be a part of @TeamUSA, every moment I’ve spent admiring the strength… of the Olympians from the sidelines came full circle,’ she said

It is unclear how much the deal between SKIMS and the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) is worth, though it is likely that Kim isn’t being paid by the USOC — in fact, she is almost certainly paying for the privilege to dress the Olympians as a sponsor.

According to The Street, Nike signed a deal in 2014 to pay $4 million a year to dress Olympians. When they re-upped in 2020, the new deal — which is good through 2028 — is reportedly worth as much as $200 million. 

But the payoff comes both in prominent advertising on an international stage, as well as more concrete clothing sales. 

In the five years after Ralph Lauren became an official outfitter of Team USA, the company’s stock rose by $100 a share.

 DailyMail.com has contacted a SKIMS spokesperson for comment. 

Connection: Kim referenced her stepfather Caitlyn Jenner — who took home gold for the decathlon at the 1976 Montreal Olympics

‘I traveled [with] my stepdad and family to all different cities for the Olympic trials, the Olympics and track meets of @caitlynjenner’s and at every stop I would buy an Olympic t-shirt as a souvenir,’ she wrote

‘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

Though SKIMS is now an official Team USA brand, star has not said whether the official Olympics collection would be made in the USA — and the rest of the brand’s products are not manufactured in America. 

In February of 2020, the New York Times reported that the company would not say where its products were made, but noted that labels read ‘Made in Turkey’ and ‘Made in China.’

In fact, Kim faced backlash for manufacturing in Turkey considering the hostile relations between Turkey and Armenia. Kim’s paternal grandparents emigrated to the US from Armenia, and Kim has been vocal in advocating for recognition of the Armenian genocide, which occurred in what is now Turkey. 

In 2019, some fans took to Twitter to share their displeasure and implored Kim not to manufacture in Turkey.

‘SMH @KimKardashian Made In Turkey!!! Are you kidding me?!?!?!?!?! Sorry, I’m sending this back ASAP,’ wrote one.

Made abroad: Though SKIMS is now an official Team USA brand, its products are not manufactured in the USA

‘I love kim but i’m infuriated to learn that her brand “skims” is made in turkey..kim you claim to have pride in your culture but choose to support the economy of those who slaughtered over millions of innocent,’ wrote another.

Kim later responded, telling Reuters that she planned to open up a factory in Armenia as well.

‘I’m really excited because tonight I have a meeting to talk about future investments and how to open up a factory here and how to really bring business to Armenia,’ she said.

Kim said she was not involved in the decision to manufacture products in Turkey, explaining: ‘I actually wasn’t really a part of production at the beginning.’

She explained she was presented with ‘tons of samples from many different factories and I picked quality. I didn’t ask like ‘Well where’s each one made?’ and no one thought to tell me until after production.’

Home grown: Meanwhile, Team USA’s opening and closing ceremony uniforms were created by American designer Ralph Lauren

Tradition: He has made the opening and closing ceremony uniforms since 2008

The uniforms are entirely made in the USA — though they weren’t always

Backlash: In 2012, the designer was criticized for manufacturing the Summer Olympics uniforms in China

The designer made sure that in the future, all Olympic uniforms would be American-made

Meanwhile, Team USA’s opening closing ceremony uniforms were created by American designer Ralph Lauren, who has made them since 2008.

The uniforms are entirely made in the USA — though they weren’t always.

In 2012, the designer was criticized for manufacturing the Summer Olympics uniforms in China. 

Then-Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid ranted that the committee should ‘put [the uniforms] in a big pile and burn them.’

The designer made sure that in the future, all Olympic uniforms would be American-made.

Some items from this year’s collection are also available to buy in stores and online.