It had to be just right. That was the reason Nike and Skims pushed the debut of their codesigned collection from the spring to the fall.

But now it’s ready, they believe, and the line of performance and lifestyle product will launch on Friday. It will include 58 styles in seven collections with pieces ranging from foundational bras and leggings to layering pieces. Hero styles will include a double-strap scoop bra, a footsie legging, a mini short, a two-inch boy short, a long-sleeve wrap top, side-snap sweatpants and an oversize track jacket.

It was in February that the sports giant and the intimates and loungewear company cofounded by Kim Kardashian revealed that they were teaming up to create NikeSkims, a new brand targeted to women.

The partnership represented a new direction for Nike, which had never created a brand with an outside company. It also revealed the company’s acknowledgement of its struggles attracting female customers who were opting for Lululemon, Alo and other brands instead.

As Nike writes on the NikeSkims page on its website: “We heard you loud and clear: you want to look good and feel good. That’s why Nike and Skims are teaming up to introduce a new brand: NikeSkims. Grounded in innovation and an unrivaled belief in women, NikeSkims product is designed to sculpt and engineered to perform.”

Although Nike has doubled down on its women’s-centered product and marketing in recent years, including running its first Super Bowl ad in nearly 30 years centered around female athletes such as WNBA’s Caitlin Clark and track and field star Sha’Carri Richardson, it has yet to truly stick.

That’s where NikeSkims comes in.

The privately held Skims, which was launched in 2019 by Kardashian and power apparel players Jens and Emma Grede as an intimates brand centered around inclusivity, is now valued at more than $4 billion. It has since expanded into swimwear, activewear, dresses, sweaters, menswear and other products, and expects to have 22 stores in operation by the end of this year.

And it’s very popular among women — especially young women who represent the lion’s share of its customer base — with its message of body positivity and inclusive sizing and its influencer-led marketing. The announcement of NikeSkims generated $6.1 million in media impact value, according to Launchmetrics.

Over the years, Skims has partnered with luxury brands including Fendi, Roberto Cavalli and Dolce & Gabbana as well as more mainstream companies such as The North Face, the NBA and the WNBA. But the collaboration with Nike brings things to another level.

Each of the seven collections features different fabrics that were developed by the two companies in tandem. Three of the collections — Matte, Shine and Airy — are considered core to the line and will be updated each season.

The Matte collection blends Nike Dri-Fit performance technology with Skims’ mid-level compression. It features a range of mid-level sports bras in a variety of styles with adjustable straps and closures and molded cups. The bras are complemented by shorts available in five-inch or seven-inch lengths as well as capris and leggings in 7/8 length or full length, flare or bootcut. There’s even a legging with a built-in “Pilates foot,” Nike said. All told, there are 21 styles available in three colorways.

Shine, the second core collection, offers 11 lightweight, stretchy sports bras, T-shirts, long- and short-sleeve shirts and leggings in three colors. They also feature quick dry technology and are designed for strength training and more high-impact movement.

Airy is a collection of breathable basics designed for layering and featuring oversize tops, tanks and T-shirts, jackets and sweatpants with snap closures on the side. The seven pieces are for low-impact activities.

The seasonal collections include Vintage Seamless, a line of eight styles of seamless knits with moisture-wicking technology and a vintage look. Key pieces include waffle knits with rib-binding details. Weightless Layers offers five semi-sheer layering pieces in lightweight fabrics with reflective trim detailing.

The final two collections are Matte Tricot, a three-style assortment of track-inspired designs in matte fabrics and finishes, and Shiny Nylon, an oversize pant.

NikeSkims is offered in a wide range of sizes — from XXS to 4X with select styles in small to DD. Some bra styles are offered in 32B to 44DDDD.

Prices range from $38 for a sports bra to $148 for a catsuit. The color palette is subdued, with black and brown as the foundational shades and a burgundy, which is the fall seasonal color.

To accompany the launch, the companies created a campaign including a film, titled “Bodies of Work” directed by Janicza Bravo, and still photography from Luis Alberto Rodriguez and Rob Woodcox. The campaign features some well-known faces including Kardashian and other Nike-sponsored athletes such as Richardson, volleyball player Madisen Skinner, snowboarder Chloe Kim, gymnast Jordan Chiles and golfer Nelly Korda along with more than 40 collegiate athletes from USC and UCLA who participate in sports ranging from tennis and volleyball to softball and judo.

The high-energy spot shows the women training and also includes a close-up of a female’s butt as she stands up on a stationary bike. Skims is known for its built-in butt pads, a technology that is embraced in the NikeSkims collection as well.

“NikeSkims’ ‘Bodies at Work’ film celebrates every woman’s strength and power,” Kardashian said. “Our mission is clear: to redefine women’s activewear without compromise. This collection brings together cutting-edge performance with bold, style-forward design, empowering athletes — from elite competitors to everyday gym enthusiasts — to move effortlessly and conquer their goals with confidence.”

“I’m an athlete, but I love fashion too. It’s important for me to express myself, and I love how wearing NikeSkims allows me to do that,” Chiles said. “I love the quality, how it moves with me and supports me in all the right areas. I feel sleek, comfortable and completely myself.”

Nike has been struggling to regain its momentum after a series of missteps under former chief executive officer John Donahoe. He was replaced last October by Elliott Hill, who had retired after 32 years with the company, and returned to help reposition the business and regain the market share lost to competitors such as Hoka and On in the running space while supercharging its innovation engine. Since then, Hill has changed nearly the entire top management team and instituted several rounds of layoffs. Although sales in the fiscal fourth quarter of 2025 continued to be down, falling 12 percent, there is now a sense of optimism that Nike’s turnaround efforts are on the right track. Its next earnings results will be released Sept. 30.

“NikeSkims is a bold evolution in how women experience sport and style,” said Amy Montagne, president of Nike. “By uniting Nike’s legacy of innovation and athlete centric design with Skims’ solution-first approach to design, we are delivering what no other brand can. Together, we’re redefining the global activewear landscape and setting a new standard.”

She continued: “It’s part of Nike’s broader commitment to her: uncompromising product innovation that moves and celebrates women.”

The analyst community believes the launch of NikeSkims may be just the jolt the sports brand needs to fuel its restructuring. Cristina Fernandez of the Telsey Group said: “I do think the NikeSkims collection can move the needle for Nike with women over time. The media response to the initial announcement of the NikeSkims brand was tremendous. And Kim Kardashian has a very large media following — 355 million Instagram followers versus Nike’s 299 million. Second, this new brand can bring in a new female consumer to Nike apparel that is more fashion forward than Nike’s average consumer for women’s apparel, which has been more of an athlete. That consumer, over time, can also buy footwear and other products from Nike, creating a halo for the brand. I suspect the initial collection will be small so might not materially contribute to Nike’s financial results, but as it scales globally and to wholesale partners it can become a meaningful contributor to the top and bottom lines.”