lululemon controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Investigation into potential PFAS exposure
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened an investigation into whether forever chemicals from tight pants could migrate through sweat and whether the company’s wellness-oriented marketing was misleading.
2023
Atlanta store employee dismissals
Two employees were dismissed after confronting or following people involved in a store looting. The company said the dismissals were based on the employees’ conduct rather than simply calling police.
2022
Nike sues Lululemon over Mirror device and apps
Lawsuit filed
Nike filed a lawsuit accusing Lululemon of patent infringement involving its at-home Mirror fitness device and related mobile applications. The report describes this as Nike's accusation, not a court determination.
Company response
Denial — Lululemon
A spokesperson for Lululemon said in an emailed statement, "The patents in question are overly broad and invalid. We are confident in our position and look forward to defending it in court."
Source excerpt
Nike on Wednesday filed a lawsuit accusing Lululemon of patent infringement over the apparel maker's at-home Mirror fitness device and related mobile applications.
A spokesperson for Lululemon said in an emailed statement, "The patents in question are overly broad and invalid. We are confident in our position and look forward to defending it in court."
Lululemon said in a statement: 'The patents in question are overly broad and invalid. We are confident in our position and look forward to defending it in court.'
2021
Internal dispute over racial-justice messaging
A director reportedly pressed employees to prepare an All Lives Matter campaign. Employees objected, a Black Lives Matter concept was selected instead, and the director later left the company.
2021
Lululemon files suit against Peloton over apparel designs
Lawsuit filed
In November 2021, Lululemon filed suit in federal court in Central California alleging that products in Peloton's new apparel line infringe its design patents and trade dress. Lululemon sought an injunction and damages. The allegations are claims made in active litigation and do not constitute a court determination of infringement or liability.
Company response
Clarification — Lululemon
Shannon Higginson, Lululemon's senior vice president, general counsel, and chief compliance officer, told Insider in a statement that the Canada-based athleisure brand is "confident in our position and look forward to properly resolving this case through the courts."
Source excerpt
Lululemon is seeking an injunction against Peloton to stop it from selling the products Lululemon claims are "copy-cats" of its patents, as well as damages from Peloton to make up for any lost profits Lululemon has experienced as a result of Peloton's products hitting the market.
Lululemon filed suit in Central California federal court on Monday, alleging that several of the products from Peloton's new apparel line infringe on Lululemon's design patents.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Athletic apparel retailer Lululemon Athletica Inc. (LULU), has filed a lawsuit against the fitness company Peloton Interactive Inc. (PTON), on patent infringement allegations related to the designs of a new line of leggings and sports bras.
2021
Peloton sues Lululemon over apparel design patent claims
Lawsuit filed
Peloton filed a lawsuit against Lululemon in Manhattan federal court, seeking a declaration that it had not infringed Lululemon's patents and trade dress and that Lululemon's patent claims were invalid. Lululemon had said it would sue unless Peloton stopped selling its apparel, and stated that it would defend its proprietary rights.
Source excerpt
"At Lululemon we are known for our product innovation and iconic design," Lululemon said in a statement on Friday. "We will defend our proprietary rights, to protect the integrity of our brand, and to safeguard our intellectual property."
The lawsuit was filed in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday night
Peloton has sued Lululemon after the athletic apparel maker threatened its own lawsuit over the exercise bike company’s new apparel line.
2021
DISH sues ICON, lululemon and MIRROR over streaming patents
Lawsuit filed
DISH filed complaints against ICON Health & Fitness, lululemon and Curiouser Products, doing business as MIRROR, in the District of Delaware, alleging infringement of DISH's streaming-related patents through their fitness streaming services.
Source excerpt
DISH Technologies LLC and Sling TV LLC (collectively, DISH) filed complaints against Peloton Interactive Inc. on Tuesday in the Eastern District of Texas and ICON Health & Fitness Inc., as well as lululemon athletica Inc. (lululemon) and Curiouser Products Inc. (doing business as MIRROR) on Wednesday in the District of Delaware, alleging that the defendants infringed DISH’s streaming-related patents in their respective fitness streaming services.
The lawsuits, filed Tuesday in federal court in Texas and Delaware on behalf of Sling TV, accuses Peloton, NordicTrack-owner Icon Health & Fitness Inc. and Mirror-owner Lululemon using Dish’s patented technology
2020
Lululemon faces backlash over employee’s promotion of racist T-shirt
Public backlash
Lululemon faced criticism after art director Trevor Fleming shared a link to a T-shirt described in the article as racist. Some customers condemned the brand and said they would stop supporting it. The article also reports criticism of the brand’s hiring of Fleming.
Company response
Personnel action — Lululemon
The employee involved is no longer with the company.
Apology — Lululemon
We apologize that an employee was affiliated with promoting an offensive T-shirt, and we take this very seriously.
Personnel action — Lululemon
We acted immediately, and the person involved is no longer an employee of Lululemon.
Source excerpt
Soon after posting the T-shirt’s link to his personal Instagram account’s bio, Fleming received an onslaught of criticism from Lululemon fans, many of whom also condemned the brand for hiring someone who would share something so obviously offensive.
The comment then led to a much larger and very controversial thread, headed up by a response from Lululemon’s social team, which states, “Please know that at lululemon, our values are core to who we are. We take matters such as this extremely seriously and have no tolerance for cultural insensitivity and discrimination. The employee involved is no longer with the company.”
The aspirational athletic-wear maker Lululemon, famous for its expensive leggings sported by young urban professionals, is facing vigorous criticism for promoting a yoga workshop billed as an opportunity to “resist capitalism”.
2020
Lululemon responds to backlash over shirt design and fires employee
Company response
Lululemon responded to public backlash connected to a shirt design, stating that the design was not a Lululemon product and that the company opposes discriminatory behaviour. The company also said that the employee involved was no longer employed by Lululemon. The response addressed the controversy over the brand's affiliation with the design while distancing the company from the design itself and confirming the employee's departure.
Lululemon responded to outrage over its affiliation with a shirt design, said the design was not a Lululemon product and opposed discriminatory behaviour, and said the employee involved was no longer employed by the company.
Company response
Personnel action — Lululemon
We acted immediately, and the person involved is no longer an employee of Lululemon.
Clarification — Lululemon
It added that the shirt design is not a Lululemon product and it opposes "any discriminatory behaviours."
Source excerpt
Lululemon has issued an apology after getting criticized for a "bat fried rice" T-shirt design advertised by one of its then-employees on his Instagram page.
Commenters online decried the shirt as racist, especially as reports of targeted attacks against Asian Americans have grown with the coronavirus pandemic.
Lululemon confirmed that the T-shirt was not one of its products
2019
Lululemon investigates alleged worker abuse at supplier factory
Company response
Lululemon said it had launched an investigation after learning of reports alleging worker abuse at a manufacturing facility in Bangladesh that supplies the retailer. The company said team members had visited the factory and that it would work with an independent, non-profit third party to investigate.
Stated objective. to fully investigate the allegations
Company response
Investigation — Lululemon
The company says in a statement that it takes the allegations very seriously and is committed to a full, independent investigation.
Investigation — Lululemon
The company says it will work with an independent, non-profit third party to fully investigate the allegations.
Source excerpt
The Guardian newspaper reported Monday that some female workers at the factory, owned and run by another corporation, say they suffered verbal and physical abuse, including being slapped and called sexist insults.
VANCOUVER — Lululemon Athletica Inc. says it has launched an investigation after learning about reports of worker abuse at a manufacturing facility in Bangladesh that supplies the athleisure retailer.
The company says in a statement that it takes the allegations very seriously and is committed to a full, independent investigation.
2019
Workers allege abuse at Lululemon garment factory in Bangladesh
Issue disclosure
Female garment workers at a factory in Chittagong, Bangladesh, alleged regular workplace abuse, including physical assault and verbal humiliation by managers. Lululemon said it would investigate independently, that its team visited the factory, and that orders from the factory had been halted.
Company response
Investigation — Lululemon
We take these allegations very seriously and we’re committed to a full, independent investigation.
Investigation — Lululemon
Members of Lululemon's social responsibility and production team visited the factory in Bangladesh immediately to speak with workers and learn more.
Source excerpt
Female garment workers in one of the brand’s factories claim they suffer regular abuse in the workplace including being beaten and physically assaulted.
Lululemon has announced that orders from the Chittagong factory in question have now been halted.
In the factory in Chittagong, Bangladesh, women are admitting they are faced with physical violence on a daily basis and are called “sluts” and “whores” by managers out to humiliate them.
2018
Potdevin misconduct controversy
Laurent Potdevin resigned as chief executive and left the board following a misconduct-related controversy involving a relationship with an employee and later contractor.
2013
Transparent pants and founder comments
A recall of overly sheer black yoga pants was followed by criticism of Chip Wilson’s comments about garment pilling, customers’ bodies and plus-size clothing.
2007
Vitasea claims controversy
Testing reported no meaningful difference in mineral levels between Vitasea garments and ordinary cotton, challenging claims that the seaweed-based fabric offered anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, hydrating or detoxifying benefits.