Lululemon was founded in 1998 by Chip Wilson in Vancouver, British Columbia, with its first standalone store opening in November 2000. Wilson created the name to have many L's so that it would sound western to Japanese buyers, who often have difficulty pronouncing the letter. In 2019, Lululemon announced an investment in Mirror, a fitness startup that sells an interactive mirror with a camera and speakers for at-home workouts. The companies planned to create new content for the device, starting with meditation classes. In June 2020, Lululemon announced a $500 million deal to purchase Mirror, capitalizing on a growing trend of people conducting virtual workouts at home instead of going to a gym due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lululemon sells athletic wear including tops, yoga pants, shorts, sweaters, jackets and undergarments, as well as hair accessories, bags, yoga mats and water bottles. Lululemon trademarked its original fabric, Luon, which included a higher-than-average amount of nylon microfiber, in 2005. Since then, the company has produced several different types of fabrics, including compression and moisture-wicking designs.

This spring, lululemon Like New launches online and in nearly one third of the brand’s US stores. The pilot trade-in and resale program is part of lululemon’s Impact Agenda and Be Planet environmental commitments to accelerate progress towards a circular ecosystem by 2025. Starting in May, lululemon guests in Texas and California can trade in gently used lululemon clothing in one of the 80+ participating stores or by mail in exchange for a lululemon e-gift card. In June, the online resale program will activate, with 100% of profits¹ being reinvested into the brand’s sustainability initiatives, including circular product design, renew and recycle programs, and store environmental programs, extending and amplifying the positive impact of lululemon. Read more on their website.

Canadian athletic apparel company Lululemon Athletica has established a tech hub in Bengaluru, its first outside of North America. The idea is to step up its digital offerings and omnichannel experience. Lululemon Athletica is the second prominent Canadian apparel brand to come to India for tech. Hudson’s Bay Company, which owns Saks Fifth Avenue, set up a centre in Bengaluru a few years ago. Lululemon is expected to hire about 250 technologists for the centre by 2022. Its CTO Julie Averill said India provides a compelling talent proposition.