Lululemon is a popular, if not the most popular brand that people turn to for athletic wear. However, many don't know about the brand's beginning, and the racist reason for their name. Read along to find out more and how they continued to reach success!
These images are from past marketing campaigns, found from their website.
What is Lululemon?
Chances are, you've probably heard about Lululemon, due to its popularity among teenage girls and guys alike. Their iconic, bright red logo with a curved "a" design is unmissable. In fact, they've even gained a title of luxury for their versatility of fabrics and ability to dress up or dress down their pieces.
You can find a multitude of items on their website, ranging from jackets to shorts to their most popular item, leggings. Next, I'm going to go into the history, quality, and affordability of the brand.
A Problematic Past:
Contrary to popular belief, Lululemon is actually a fairly new brand. It was founded by Chip Wilson in 1998, in Vancouver, Canada. What started as a design studio by day and a yoga studio by night soon became a single standalone store in November of 2000. Their goal was to. create a community hub where people could learn and discuss the physical aspects of healthy living, mindfulness, and living a life of possibility. They also wished to create real relationships with their guests and help celebrate their goals, but at the cost of respect for many.
In 2013, Lululemon came under scrutiny when in an interview, Chip Wilson disclosed the history and reason for their popular name. Before Lululemon, Wilson had launched a mildly successful skateboard brand, "Homeless," which was apparently popular with the Japanese population because they couldn't say the "L," as it isn't a part of their vocabulary. Because of this, he thought that his next brand's name should have a heavy "L" sound, because it would attract the Asian-Canadian and Asian-American populations. Wilson wanted his brand to sound "exotic" to foreigners, which was a dangerous generalization on his part. In essence, he believed it'd be funny to listen to people of Asian descent try to pronounce Lululemon, which was an extremely problematic look for the brand.
Is Lululemon Legit?
It's unfortunate to see that the history of Lululemon is nothing but racist, but with a newly appointed CEO, it's great to see that the brand is attempting to resolve its problematic past by embracing inclusion, with its addition of plus sizes, and models of color. They have a long way to go, but the change is there. Because of this, as well as the brand's reliability, I'm happy to say that yes, Lululemon is legit.
Affordability, Quality, and Accessibility:
Now, I'm stepping away from my normal blog format, where I find an affordable place to review and recommend to readers. I'm afraid to say that Lululemon is not the most affordable place to shop for many. A single pair of leggings will cost you from $89 to $160, which is quite steep compared to most places. However, the promise of quality is too good for some people to pass up.
Two of their most popular items, the Align 25'' Leggings and the Hotty Hot LR 2.5'' Shorts can be found here, in many colors
Lululemon is extremely reliable when it comes to shipping and handling- free shipping is almost always offered, and your order always arrives in three days or less, depending on where you live. The return and refund process is also quite easy, and the website offers a live chat option, so you will always get help immediately, if needed. Having bought from them myself, I did encounter a shipping issue, and when I requested help, I received a full refund from them and a complimentary $25 gift card!
Final Review:
Overall, I would give this company a 7/10. While the biggest con of this company is its name's racist history, the ability to acknowledge their mistake and grow from it is an honorable thing for a brand to do. Although their items are quite expensive, the quality of the clothing proves to be extremely durable and long-lasting. The exclusivity of the brand is caused by nothing other than the pricing, so I'd like to see this change in the future. However, their customer service is outstanding, and they seem to take great care of their buyers, so if you're willing to spend the money, I'd give this company a thumbs up.
If you have any experiences with Lululemon that you'd like to share, I'd love to hear them in the comments below. Thanks for reading!