Lululemon: Cute and Controversial
Take five steps onto a college campus and you will see at least ten pairs of Lululemon leggings.
The workout clothes are cute and comfortable but arguably, highly overpriced. However, this does not stop the thousands of people who invest in the brand. We all know someone who loves the athletic brand, yourself probably included. From the outside, no one can blame you, but you might change your stance when you look into the company’s founder and its early years. The founder of the company Lululemon, Chip Wilson, has been under scrutiny for the immoral comments made that have reflected the clothing brand in a not-so-positive light.
The Lululemon Name
While the name Lululemon is cute, the idea that influenced it is not so endearing. According to a quote from founder Chip Wilson in 2004, the brand name Lululemon was made in response to the letter “L” not being in the Japanese alphabet. In an interview, Wilson said that he thought it would attract Japanese people to the brand and that it would be “funny to watch them try and say it.”
Lulu Labor
In his book, “Little Black Stretchy Pants,” Wilson admitted his stance on child labor. Turns out, the Lululemon founder is all for it. He even admitted to making his children work as young as five-years-old. It makes you wonder how their workers are treated in their factories. The company has since come forward and talked about its zero-tolerance policy for forced or abusive labor, but the workers in a factory in Bangladesh revealed in 2019 that they were “beaten and physically assaulted.”
An investigation was immediately launched and the company released a statement saying, “we require that all vendors share our values and uphold a consistent set of policies that live up to our Code. We do not tolerate any violation of this Code… There are currently no orders planned for this factory, and we will take appropriate action based upon the findings of our investigation.”
Larger than Lemon
Despite charging approximately one hundred dollars for a pair of leggings, Wilson claims that the brand cannot afford the extra fabric needed to create plus-size clothes. During an interview with Calgary Herald in 2005, Wilson claimed it would be a “money loser.” Later, Wilson made more controversial comments about the type of customers his brand is made for.
In 2013, people began coming forward with the complaint that their leggings were pilling. Wilson’s response to this was that the leggings “don’t work for some women’s bodies.” Chip Wilson stepped down as CEO of Lululemon in 2013 after his controversial comments about women’s bodies were made public. However, he is still the largest individual shareholder in the company as of July 2021.
Where is Lululemon Now?
I have never been a huge Lulu girl, but I will admit I have purchased a few pieces here and there. After seeing the company in this new and unflattering light, I’m not too eager to invest anymore. My bank account may also have some influence on that. Luckily, there are many dupes that you can find online for a cheaper price. Amazon is a great place to find underrated pieces, and Aerie, my personal favorite, has cute and comfortable athletic wear that has never let me down.
Luckily, Lululemon has made some improvements to its company since the former CEO stepped down. One of the ways they have changed their image for the better is by introducing plus-sized clothing ranging from sizes 0-20 in September 2020. Finding athletic wear that works and makes you feel confident is not always an easy feat. At the end of the day, it’s all about being comfortable and feeling good!
Be well, Auburn!
References:
Name, Labor, Body Comments, and Lululemon.
Writer
After getting her associate degree, Sophi transferred to Auburn Univerity to study Communications and English. She had been indifferent towards Auburn before, but after chanting Bodda Getta at football games and indulging in some Toomer’s lemonade, Sophi embraced the Auburn community with open arms. She plans to pursue a career in publishing as a book editor. Sophi is involved with the university’s literary magazine, The Auburn Circle, on prose staff.
If you haven’t guessed by now, Sophi is an avid reader who can talk for hours about her favorite books. She will recommend just about anything by Agatha Christie or Madeline Miller if you ask. When she doesn’t have her nose stuck in a book, you can find her running or playing sand volleyball at The Rec, hanging out at her apartment with her roommates and friends, or playing the annoyingly addictive Block Blast game on her phone.
