Skimming the surface

Finding Your Identity, Losing the Ego, and Staying Grounded in Authenticity

Yes, me posing at a Skims Conference! 😏

Skims has been all the rage lately—and your favorite fashion girly had the honor of attending a Skims x Fashion Scholarship Fund event! It was a truly inspiring experience where I got to hear from a panel of Skims professionals as they spoke about their journeys, design philosophies, and what it’s like to work with Miss Kim Kardashian herself.

This marks my second year being awarded the Fashion Scholarship Fund, and I’m beyond grateful to be recognized again among so many talented scholars. The event kicked off with a delicious breakfast and warm welcome, as all 160 FSF Scholars gathered for a panelist discussion. During the session, I asked about how each panelist maintained originality in their personal identity while representing a brand so closely tied to a global celebrity. Their insight into balancing authenticity, creativity, and the evolving image of Skims was incredibly valuable—especially considering how celebrity identity can shape not just collaborations but the very aesthetics and categories a brand pursues, even beyond what’s currently trending.

In speaking about their own identities, the panelists emphasized how important it is to be genuine—to never present yourself as anything but who you truly are. Knowing yourself and being confident in your identity brings a fresh perspective and unique energy to every part of Skims’ design and management teams. They reminded us to stay open to growth and not to shy away from opportunities, even if they fall outside our specific industry. In fact, insight from outside the fashion world often revitalizes it, infusing the space with new ideas and unexpected inspiration.

This semester, I’m also taking a Product Development course ,where I’ve been working on a project that merges safety, functionality, and health into a reinvented dog harness. Learning how Skims approaches feedback from minority and differently abled communities really resonated with me as an aspiring entrepreneur. It helped me get a glimpse into how a real company conducts surveys and samples that aligns with my dog harness in my Product Development Course. We discussed how human-centered design and real-world feedback can elevate products in a way that serves people better, not just sells better.

One of the most insightful moments came during a conversation with a panelist about the ethical implications of AI-generated software and the rising concerns of data consent and privacy. As someone passionate about the intersection of tech and design, this discussion gave me a lot to think about in terms of how fashion brands are navigating innovation responsibly while also protecting their unealeased ideas from competitors, copy-cats, and the general masses. 

Me and friends exploring Skims!

Overall, what stood out most was the humility and self-awareness of the panelists. Their success wasn’t just about having ideas—it came from staying curious, putting ego aside, and remaining committed to growth. Being in that room, surrounded by people so intentional about their work, made me even more excited to forge my own path in the industry.

Learning from the Skims team was truly a one-of-a-kind experience. I’m excited to see how the brand continues to expand across the U.S. and globally—and how their commitment to inclusivity and innovation continues to shape the future of fashion.