Skims, the shapewear brand co-founded by Kim Kardashian, is zeroing in on Ala Moana Center for its first Hawaii store, according to newly filed public records. The planned Honolulu location would be the company’s debut outpost in the islands as Skims shifts from its online roots to a fuller brick-and-mortar push following a major funding round.
As reported by Pacific Business News, the filing specifically names Ala Moana Center as the intended site for a new SKIMS shop. The documents stop short of listing an opening date, and the company has not publicly announced a signed lease, so the deal is still in the "watch this space" phase.
Big bet after big funding
The Ala Moana move tracks with Skims’ larger retail ambitions following a $225 million funding round that valued the company near $5 billion and helped bankroll its expansion into physical stores. Business of Fashion reports that Skims now operates roughly 18 U.S. stores along with several international franchise locations as it scales up beyond clicks into real-world racks and fitting rooms.
Why Ala Moana
Ala Moana Center is Hawaii’s largest shopping complex and ranks among the world’s biggest open-air malls, drawing millions of tourists and local residents to its extensive lineup of shops and restaurants, according to the mall’s official information. For national brands testing the Hawaii market, that steady, year-round foot traffic is hard to resist.
Local retail churn
The mall has also had some recent turnover, creating openings for new arrivals. Saks Off 5th shut down its Ala Moana store in February as part of a broader corporate reorganization, leaving a prominent retail space up for grabs. Hawaii News Now covered the closure on Feb. 2, noting the end of the discount retailer’s run at the center.
What shoppers can expect
Skims’ existing brick-and-mortar locations lean into an immersive, highly curated look: tonal interiors, rounded fixtures, custom mannequins and tightly edited displays that mirror the brand’s minimalist aesthetic. That template has guided its recent flagship rollouts. The Los Angeles Times noted Skims’ retail-first tilt and quoted CEO Jens Grede saying, “We’re excited to keep expanding, giving both new and loyal customers a space to fully experience SKIMS.”
For now, the public filing offers no timetable, square footage details or formal opening date for an Ala Moana store. If the plans move ahead, Skims would join a growing wave of national brands using the Honolulu mall as a launchpad for broader Hawaii expansion.
