Shoppers enter a Lululemon store in Vancouver in 2014. The retailer temporarily pulled its new Get Low clothing line after complaints from customers.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
Lululemon LULU-Q founder Chip Wilson blamed the company’s board of directors for the latest problems with one of the retailer’s new lines of workout wear.
In a post on LinkedIn, Wilson, who is seeking to make changes to the company’s board, said Lululemon has lost its way as a leader in technical apparel.
“This is a new low for Lululemon. Pulling back the ’Get Low’ product line after three days is clearly a total operational failure,” Wilson said in the post.
He said the product issues are not the fault of any “hard-working employees.”
“This is the fault of the board. It is clear that persistent failures like this are born out of this board’s lack of experience in creative businesses, disinterest in product development and quality, and focus on short-term, self-interested priorities,” Wilson said.
Lululemon recently pulled its Get Low collection of leggings, tights and tank tops from its website after customers complained products in the collection were ill-fitting and too sheer.
By early afternoon on Thursday, it appeared the company was selling the products on their website again, now with a note suggesting customers buy a larger size.
“We take our guests’ feedback seriously and value their input in shaping the products and experiences we create. Last week, we temporarily paused online sales of our Get Low collection in North America to review early guest feedback and insights,” Lululemon said.
“Based on the learnings, we have updated our product education information to incorporate new guidance on fit, sizing, and features to better support guest purchase decisions. The Get Low collection is now back online and continues to be available in stores and in other markets.”
Lululemon founder Chip Wilson has become an outspoken critic of the company and is seeking to shake up its board of directors.JONATHAN HAYWARD/The Canadian Press
Customers had said online that they found the line’s products offered no compression and, in some cases, the leggings were so sheer others could see their underwear or thigh tattoos through them.
The problems came after issues with the company’s Breezethrough line of clothing in 2024.
It paused sales of the Breezethrough line in summer 2024. Many of the pieces in that collection featured a long V-shaped waistband in the front and Y-shaped seam in the back that some consumers complained was unattractive and produced a “whale tail” look.
It also recalled some its popular black Luon pants in 2013 because they were too see-through.
Wilson’s comments come as Lululemon looks for a new CEO with the departure of Calvin McDonald from the top job set for the end of this month.
Why is Lululemon CEO Calvin McDonald stepping down?
Wilson, who remains a large shareholder in the company, has nominated three director candidates for Lululemon’s board, saying the search for McDonald’s replacement should be led by new, independent directors.
His three candidates for the board include Marc Maurer, former co-chief executive of On Holding AG, Laura Gentile, former chief marketing officer of ESPN and Eric Hirshberg, former chief executive officer of Activision.
The company is evaluating the suggestions and in the interim, has made its chief financial and commercial officers co-CEOs.
Experts have said the next person to take the helm should make Lululemon’s product mix feel fresh again and attract customers currently favouring rivals Alo, Vuori and Nike.