On Twitter, several accounts wondered why SKIMS ventured into shapewear for pregnant women.
One user wrote, "Kimmie, why would a woman care if her body is snatched or not during pregnancy??"
Another tweeted, "Excuse my ignorance but who’s trynna shape their pregnant bodies? Y’all don’t like being comfy and free and loose when pregnant? It’s pretty much the only time you can be as shapeless and free and comfy as you want!"
The criticism became popular enough that Kim herself explained why the Maternity Solutionwear was not designed to slim down pregnant women, but offer them support.
She tweeted, "To anyone who has an issue with maternity solutionwear, and if you haven’t been pregnant before you may not know the struggle of what it’s like carrying all of this weight the way I did along with millions of strong women, @skims maternity line is not to slim but to support."
Kim continued, "The belly part doesn’t slim your belly, it’s actually sheer and a thinner layered material compared to the rest of the garment."
"It provides support to help with the uncomfortable weight being carried in your stomach which affects your lower back and the compression on the leggings helps with pain relief caused by swelling," she explained.
Kim also pointed out that it can help support women post-birth, insisting that tens of thousands of women requested a maternity line.
She said, "It is also worn after you have given birth and provides the comfort and support that most women need after delivery especially if you are recovering from a cesarean."