Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS shapewear and loungewear firm has generated another huge internet conversation with the release of its newest product: a Faux Hair Micro String Thong. The latest release, which is basically a modern-day merkin (a wig for the pubic area), has caused a lot of controversy on social media, especially on X (previously Twitter), where people are both angry and impressed by the brand’s aggressive marketing strategy.
The Bold New Product: “The Ultimate Bush”
The official SKIMS website calls this limited-edition piece a “Faux Hair Micro String Thong,” and it costs $32. The product description calls it the brand’s “most daring panty yet” and says that it is “hand-made in a super sheer, stretch mesh” and has “a mix of curly and straight faux hair in twelve different shade variations.” SKIMS calls the item “The Ultimate Bush” and the tagline is: “With our daring new Faux Hair Panty, your carpet can be whatever color you want it to be.”
The divisive thong comes in a wide range of sizes, from XXS to 4X, and it comes in a dozen distinct colors and textures (such clay blonde straight and chocolate black curly) to match different skin tones and hair types.
People on social media are going crazy over SKIMS’ merkin.
People reacted right away and in different ways to the hairy thong online. Some people criticized the product, saying it was too expensive and not needed. Others commended Kim Kardashian for being able to get people talking about it.
A lot of people that used the product online were just confused by its presence, as seen by these comments:
“Now she’s making merkins?”
“Thirty-two dollars for something bogus that can be found in nature?
“Was there a need for this? I’m trying to figure it out.
“We should go back to the Stone Age right now because wt*.”
People have called the product a “merkin,” which is a type of pubic wig that dates back to the 15th century and was often used for cleanliness, to cover up disorders like syphilis, or as a modesty piece in movies.
Controversy Boosts Sales: The Sell-Out Success
Even though there was a lot of anger and confusion online, the launch was a big success in terms of sales. Reports say that the “faux hair micro string thong” sold out practically right away in all 12 variations once it came out. This shows that Kim Kardashian can still make money from controversy.
The launch also ties into a larger, ongoing cultural conversation about being positive about body hair, which is sometimes called the “full-bush movement” and has gained popularity on sites like TikTok. Some critics say that the publication is just “peak internet absurdity,” making money out of a normal body part.
SKIMS’ beginnings in weakness
Many people were shocked by the new introduction, yet it fits with the brand’s history of pushing the limits in intimate gear. In a 2023 interview with Time Magazine, Kim Kardashian talked about how SKIMS came to be. She said it came from a “very vulnerable” and intimate event.
“It’s just a part of me,” Kardashian said, “I take it very personally.” It started with my physique and my shapes, and it’s really weak. She said that the idea for the shapewear came from how hard it was to locate clothes that matched her skin tone, which made her have to come up with something on her own. “I used to take my shapewear to the bathtub and dye it with tea bags and coffee,” she said. The new introduction is extremely different from typical shapewear, yet it nevertheless fits with the brand’s goal of filling every potential need in the intimates market.