Ep 301 | Kym Gold

Written By Yasmin Nouri

True Religion Co-Founder: From $250K in Debt to $800M Fashion Empire

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Kym Gold is a visionary entrepreneur, co-founder of True Religion, the iconic denim brand that redefined premium jeans, and most recently, the founder of dumæ, a homeware line that blends her signature aesthetic with artisanal craftsmanship.

As the co-founder of True Religion Jeans, Kym redefined fashion with her rockstar style, fearless vision and unwavering determination. Her entrepreneurial journey began at 18 on the Venice Beach Boardwalk, where she resold irregular clothing items, eventually leading her to launch several successful brands. Known for her transformative approach to business, Kym later co-founded True Religion, a brand that would become one of the biggest names in denim history. After selling the business for over $800 million, Kym shifted her focus to family and explored new creative avenues, including filmmaking and interior design. Kym has become a trailblazer and role model as someone who continues to push the envelope when starting something new. She translated decades of her business knowledge and technical shaping of clothing for a body into homeware and her luxury home pottery brand dumæ. 

In this week’s episode, Kym Gold shares her journey from dropping out of college to her early entrepreneurial ventures and the founding of True Religion. She reflects on the pressures of entrepreneurship, the importance of self-care, and the valuable lessons she’s learned along the way. Growing up as an identical triplet, Kym talks about how her unique upbringing shaped her individuality and inspired her drive. She discusses the sacrifices she made, such as living in debt and staying in hotels with her three children, to get True Religion off the ground, and the significance of prioritizing passion over profit. Kym also opens up about the challenges of taking her company public and her choice to walk away from millions to preserve her peace of mind. Throughout our conversation, she shares insightful perspectives on resilience, self-belief, and the power of community among women. As she transitions into her new venture, dumæ, Kym reflects on the fundamentals of business no matter what industry you’re in, the art of hiring, and the importance of teamwork. This episode will leave you inspired to embrace change and pursue your passions, regardless of age or circumstances. 

Show Notes:

  • Importance of enjoying the journey and being in the moment. [03:42]

  • How self-care and leaning into manifestation alleviate pressure. [05:25]

  • The journey of life: wherever you go leads you to where you’re supposed to be. [10:04]

  • Kym’s childhood experience growing up as an identical triplet. [11:48]

  • Kym’s unique hustle, defying family expectations. [13:03]

  • From real estate license to selling garments and being a college dropout. [15:16]

  • Why everything is fixable and doable. [17:06]

  • Asking questions and not accepting "no" as an answer. [20:27]

  • Key lessons from Kym’s first two businesses. [23:11]

  • Founding True Religion with $250,000 in debt and living with three kids in a hotel. [24:21]

  • The light bulb moment for creating True Religion. [25:44]

  • Trade shows and the power of word-of-mouth. [27:14]

  • The celebrities that wore True Religion. [28:12]

  • Balancing True Religion, motherhood, and other jobs. [30:03]

  • Taking True Religion public. [32:22]

  • Leaving the company to prioritize peace of mind. [34:27]

  • The importance of inner peace. [35:41]

  • Why family and legacy are more important than business. [37:46]

  • The inspiration behind dumæ. [41:31]

  • The challenges of starting dumæ. [44:18]

  • Understanding your demographic and product is key to business success. [45:06]

  • Kym’s lessons from hiring her team. [46:12]

  • Why organization is essential in life and business. [49:07]

  • What excites Kym in this next chapter. [51:37]

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