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Emma Findlay Grede (born 23 September 1982) is a British businesswoman, entrepreneur and fashion designer. She is the CEO and co-founder of the denim company Good American, a founding partner of Skims, and co-founder of Safely.[2]
Emma Grede | |
|---|---|
| Born | Emma Findlay 23 September 1982 London, England |
| Education | London College of Fashion (did not graduate) |
| Occupation(s) | Co-founder & CEO, Good American |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Spouse | Jens Grede |
| Children | 4[1] |
Grede was born and raised in the Plaistow neighborhood of East London, England.[3][4] She is the daughter of Jenny-Lee Findlay, a white English mother who worked for Morgan Stanley and a Black Jamaican and Trinidadian father.[5][6][7] Raised by her single mother, she has three younger sisters, Charlotte, Rachelle, and Katie-Beth.[7]
Starting as a teenager, Emma began working at a number of odd jobs, including delivering newspapers, which she credits for teaching her perseverance and discipline.[8] She regularly saved her earnings to purchase magazines like Elle and Vogue and has noted that the fashion industry was a form of escapism for her.[2][9][10][11]
At age 16, Grede enrolled at the London College of Fashion, where she also secured internships at places like Gucci.[4][7] However, in order to pursue her career, she withdrew from school before completing her degree, noting that "It was the right decision for me."[7]
Entrepreneurship
After leaving college, Grede worked for Quintessentially, a concierge company, before joining Inca Productions as a fashion show and events producer.[7][12] In 2008 at age 26, Grede founded and was CEO of Independent Talent Brand (ITB) Worldwide, a London-based talent management and entertainment marketing agency [13][4][14][5] Ten years later, ITB was acquired by Rogers & Cowan for an undisclosed amount, and Grede exited the company.[14]
Around 2015, Grede proposed an idea for a denim company to Kris Jenner, whom she met during Paris Fashion Week, explaining that she wanted to partner with Jenner's daughter, Khloé Kardashian.[12][15] Grede and Kardashian launched Good American in 2016, as a women's clothing company focused on size inclusivity and body positivity with Grede as CEO.[3][4] The company sold a million dollars of denim merchandise on opening day.[11] Good American expanded from strictly selling denim jeans to include dresses, activewear, tops, swimwear, sleepwear, and shoes in its line.[4][12] The company also invented the size 15 jean—in between 14 and 16—to accommodate more body types.[12][16]
Grede is a founding partner of Skims, a shapewear brand co-founded by her husband Jens Grede and Kim Kardashian in 2019. Grede is the company's chief product officer.[4] Along with Kris Jenner and Chrissy Teigen, Grede also co-founded Safely, a brand of plant-based cleaning and self-care products that launched in March 2021.[17][18] Emma conceived of the company during the COVID-19 pandemic, as she desired products that would be safe for her own family.[19] To that end, Safely's mission is "to rid American homes of harsh toxins with plant-powered products."[19]
With an estimated net worth of over $300 million, Grede has 8% stake in Skims, 23% stake in Good American, and 22% stake in Safely.[11]
Philanthropy
Emma Grede regularly addresses the need for more diverse representation amongst CEOs and entrepreneurs and has used her influence to create opportunities for people of color, specifically.[20] Grede is a guest shark on the first episode of season 13 and the fourteenth episode of season 14 of the reality television series Shark Tank.[21] She is the first black woman investor on the show. In 2024 she became a guest dragon on the 21st series of Dragons' Den (British TV programme).[22]
Grede also is chairwoman of the 15 Percent Pledge, an initiative for retailers to reserve 15% of their shelf space for black-owned businesses.[2] Designer Aurora James spearheaded the movement after being inspired following the murder of George Floyd in 2020 and subsequent protests.[23] By 2022, the nonprofit helped black business owners generate $10 billion in revenue.[24]
In November 2022, Emma, husband Jens Grede, and Kim Kardashian won the first Innovation Award presented by Amazon Fashion for Skims at the CFDA Awards in New York. With an estimated net worth of $320 million by 2023, Forbes magazine identified Grede as one of the Richest Self-Made Women in America.[25]
Grede is married to Jens Grede, the Swedish co-founder of Skims and denim brand, Frame.[2] The couple moved to Bel Air, Los Angeles in 2017, and they have four children together.[26][27][28]
In her mid-twenties, Grede learned that she is "super-dyslexic."[10]
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