Gold Standard

The cofounder of True Religion Brand Jeans, Kym Gold uses her story to serve up a firm dose of life and career lessons that helped her build a multimillion-dollar fashion brand from the ground up.Kym Gold’s mantra, “never settle for a no; always look for a yes,” is what led her to co-create True Religion Brand Jeans, a major retail clothing company that sold for close to a billion dollars in 2013. In Gold Standard, Kym finally gives her side of the story of how the once fledgling jeans company that nobody wanted, went on to become a giant revolutionizing player in the fashion industry.As a woman in the boys’ club world of the fickle fashion business, Kym armed herself and became one of True Religion’s majority shareholders and their lead female clothing designer. On Valentine’s Day in 2007, she was served divorce papers by her then husband and had her company ripped from under her—all within an hour. Since then, she has reestablished her place in the industry and catapulted herself into the coveted 1 percent of the richest Americans.In Gold Standard, Kym’s savvy business and fashion branding experience of thirty years gives a behind-the-scenes look into the always changing fashion industry. It also mixes in her compelling personal journey, including her marriage to Mark Burnett before he became TV's biggest mega producer, a compassionate view for women of the pressures of balancing a career, finances, and family. Kym motivates readers to throw the gold gloves on and put up a fight.

Select Advance Praise for Gold Standard:“I have continually seen [Kym’s] vision and decisiveness in action.She always takes action on her instinct and seems to win time andtime again.”—Mark Burnett, Producer“Kym is such a visionary. We have a mutual respect for each other ineach of our business ventures. Her fashion sense and business acumenare undeniably spot on.”—Randy Jackson, Music Producer“A cursory look at Kym’s achievements in business will leave one inawe; that’s a given but that she achieved those things without losingwho she was, is what impresses me about her.”—Leah Remini, Actress“Even before True Religion really came in to being, Kym would dropoff jeans to my house in the hopes I would wear them for promotion.When it comes to building a business, Kym would do whatever it tookto make it successful. It is truly an inspiration for sheer perseverance.”—Eric Benet, Musician“Few women entrepreneurs have been as successful as Kym Gold,and her personal story is riveting. She has braved the turbulent watersof extraordinary success and excruciating losses, great loves and terriblebetrayals, all with edginess, a rawness and an authenticity thatmakes her a formidable force. Her book is a front row seat to huge upheavalnot only in her own life, but in American business as it comesto grips with the kind of woman who is here to change the game.”—Marianne Williamson, Author, Speaker, Activist“Both Kym and I worked in the denim industry when premiumdenim was just starting to take off ... As a designer, Kym’s vision wasalways out of the box, she was definitely a leader, not a follower.”—Peter Koral, Co-Founder, 7 For All Mankind Jeans“Kym Gold is a driving force in fashion. She created a design empireand her bold brands are known worldwide. Pop stars have even writtenand sung about True Religion and the iconic jeans she designed.I have known Kym as a friend and colleague for over 30 years. WhenKym talks about design and business, people sit up and listen. Beyondher rock star appeal and style in fashion, [she is] independent,smart and talented.”—Holly Robinson Peete, Actress, Author, Philanthropist“Kym is always at the forefront of fashion while she effortlessly createsbrands, and starts trends. She is a true visionary, a dynamic entrepreneurand leader. Her innate ability to design the next trendand build brands has left a meaningful, powerful footprint in thefashion industry.”—Lisa Kline, Clothing retailer“Kym Gold is an inspiration for women. Beyond being a visionaryentrepreneur, celebrated fashion designer, and philanthropist is[her] ability to infuse a mother’s heart in all she does-generous, graciousand grateful.”—Alice Crisci, Founder, Fertile Action, Select Advance Praise for Gold Standard:“I have continually seen [Kym’s] vision and decisiveness in action.She always takes action on her instinct and seems to win time andtime again.”—Mark Burnett, Producer“Kym is such a visionary. We have a mutual respect for each other ineach of our business ventures. Her fashion sense and business acumenare undeniably spot on.”—Randy Jackson, Music Producer“A cursory look at Kym’s achievements in business will leave one inawe; that’s a given but that she achieved those things without losingwho she was, is what impresses me about her.”—Leah Remini, Actress“Even before True Religion really came in to being, Kym would dropoff jeans to my house in the hopes I would wear them for promotion.When it comes to building a business, Kym would do whatever it tookto make it successful. It is truly an inspiration for sheer perseverance.”—Eric Benet, Musician“Few women entrepreneurs have been as successful as Kym Gold,and her personal story is riveting. She has braved the turbulent watersof extraordinary success and excruciating losses, great loves and terriblebetrayals, all with edginess, a rawness and an authenticity thatmakes her a formidable force. Her book is a front row seat to huge upheavalnot only in her own life, but in American business as it comesto grips with the kind of woman who is here to change the game.”—Marianne Williamson, Author, Speaker, Activist“Both Kym and I worked in the denim industry when premiumdenim was just starting to take off ... As a designer, Kym’s vision wasalways out of the box, she was definitely a leader, not a follower.”—Peter Koral, Co-Founder, 7 For All Mankind Jeans“Kym Gold is a driving force in fashion. She created a design empireand her bold brands are known worldwide. Pop stars have even writtenand sung about True Religion and the iconic jeans she designed.I have known Kym as a friend and colleague for over 30 years. WhenKym talks about design and business, people sit up and listen. Beyondher rock star appeal and style in fashion, [she is] independent,smart and talented.”—Holly Robinson Peete, Actress, Author, Philanthropist“Kym is always at the forefront of fashion while she effortlessly createsbrands, and starts trends. She is a true visionary, a dynamic entrepreneurand leader. Her innate ability to design the next trendand build brands has left a meaningful, powerful footprint in thefashion industry.”—Lisa Kline, Clothing retailer“Kym Gold is an inspiration for women. Beyond being a visionaryentrepreneur, celebrated fashion designer, and philanthropist is[her] ability to infuse a mother’s heart in all she does-generous, graciousand grateful.”—Alice Crisci, Founder, Fertile Action

Kym Gold is a fashion designer, philanthropist, and mother of three young men. She is a consultant for major fashion brands and lives in Malibu, California.Sharon Soboil is a freelance writer for books and film. She lives in Los Angeles, California.