Kim Kardashian’s $5Billion Skims empire sued by small-time designer who claims it hijacked her name and swamped her business

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A New York-based designer is claiming Kim Kardashian’s Skims brand stole her name and used it to build a hugely successful, $700 million business.

A new lawsuit alleges that Skims launched its ‘Fits Everybody’ line even after being warned by a smaller clothing company, Fits Everybody To A T, which claims to have already legally secured the rights to that name.

Legal papers obtained by the Daily Mail claim Kim Kardashian’s popular $5 billion company is allegedly leveraging its fame to control the market, even though it doesn’t legally own the trademark for its products.

The lawsuit claims that Skims released its collection despite being clearly and repeatedly informed that another brand already had the rights to similar products. This line later became one of Skims’ best-selling collections.

The document notes that a company with limited resources likely would have changed course after receiving this notification.

However, the defendant, with the financial support and public influence of Kim Kardashian, didn’t change their position.

Honestly, from where I see it, the company seemed to think they could just throw money at the problem. Their strategy appeared to be overpowering a small business owner through sheer financial muscle – basically, spending, marketing, and waiting until the owner couldn’t keep up. It felt like they believed they could simply outlast any legal fight, no matter how legitimate.

The lawsuit claims this is a clear case of intentional copying, where a larger, well-funded company deliberately took advantage of a smaller, more vulnerable one.

For years, the two sides have been privately fighting over the trademark, but the dispute has now become a public court case.

I’ve been a big fan of Fits for years – Denise Cesare has been creating amazing swimwear and clothes under that name for almost ten years now. It’s been interesting to watch how things have evolved, especially with Kim Kardashian launching Skims just a few years ago in 2019. Both brands really offer something special!

The dispute highlights a contrast between Kardashian’s image of female empowerment and the position of a small, independently-funded business owned by women, as described in the lawsuit.

Cesare’s team believes the similar brand names could confuse customers into thinking the products are related.

According to her lawyer, Jessica Mathews, the legal complaint details the story of Denise Cesare’s business. It’s a small company that Denise founded, funds herself, and runs entirely on her own.

‘She built her brand from the ground up, years before SKIMS entered the market.

According to reports, this situation is a classic example of reverse confusion. A much bigger company, boosted by a celebrity endorsement, chose a name very similar to an existing one and quickly dominated the market through extensive advertising, its large size, and the influence of its co-founder, Kim Kardashian.

As a long-time supporter of this smaller brand, I’m really disheartened to see them claim Skims is using its massive wealth, famous endorsements, and powerful marketing to completely overshadow them. It feels like an unfair fight, honestly, and they’re worried they won’t be able to compete with that level of influence.

Cesare says her business has been buried so deep in search results that people can’t find it anymore – it’s practically invisible online.

The complaint states that Skims not only continued using the name despite receiving objections, but also increased its use by releasing new products and running more marketing campaigns.

The main point of contention revolves around Skims’s very successful ‘Fits Everybody’ collection – a popular line of shapewear and underwear championed by Kardashian and featured in campaigns with celebrities like Heidi Klum, Tyra Banks, and Candice Swanepoel.

The brand’s close-fitting foundational pieces are key to its success, and a recent lawsuit states the collection has earned between $700 million and $900 million in sales.

Cesare’s lawyers stated that their client established her brand in 2015, well before SKIMS came into existence in 2019. They’ve requested SKIMS cease using the brand’s identifying mark for nearly two years.

They initially declined the request. The USPTO then denied registration of their trademark on two separate occasions, citing our client’s existing registered trademark.

Trademark law focuses on who started using a brand name or logo first, not on company size or popularity. Our client was the first to use the mark, and unfortunately had to take legal action to defend her brand and business.

A trademark dispute was already underway at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Skims was trying to trademark the phrase ‘FITS EVERYBODY,’ but faced challenges, even though the company said it had been using the name since 2019.

Cesare already owns two registered trademarks with the federal government – one from 2016 and a newer one from 2024. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is now using these existing trademarks to deny Skims’ application.

In December 2025, trademark officials rejected the application, stating it was too close to existing trademarks and could likely confuse customers.

Authorities highlighted the strikingly similar language and product designs, noting that some items were virtually indistinguishable from each other, even to the point of being legally considered the same.

Skims initially had six months to address the issue, but requested an additional three months on March 3rd as tensions rose. The disagreement ultimately escalated into a federal lawsuit filed on March 31st.

Cesare is requesting financial compensation, including lost profits and legal fees, and is asking the court to stop Skims from using the name in the future.

She’s also requesting the court give her the earnings from the contested product line, which could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars. She claims she’s lost control over her brand, leading to these financial losses.

If Cesare is successful in their legal battle, Kim Kardashian’s shapewear company could lose a significant amount of money—potentially hundreds of millions—and may have to discontinue one of its popular product lines.

Skims hasn’t officially responded yet. They’ve hired lawyers and asked for more time – until May 27th – to submit their legal defense.

A spokesperson for Kim Kardashian and her brand, Skims, did not reply when contacted for a statement by the Daily Mail.

The company previously settled a legal case in January 2026, paying $200,000 after being accused of incorrectly charging New Jersey customers sales tax on clothing that was actually tax-free between 2019 and 2024.

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2026-05-01 19:19