Chip Wilson, the founder of Lululemon (LULU), has found another bone to pick with the LULU Board. Wilson, who is already rallying shareholder votes to make changes to the company’s Board and select a new CEO, took to LinkedIn on Wednesday, January 21 to suggest (in no uncertain terms) that Lululemon is falling short as a leader in technical apparel.
Lululemon reportedly paused online sales of its recently launched “Get Low” leggings collection on Tuesday, January 20, after receiving customer complaints. Customers also wrote on Reddit, the social media platform, that the leggings are “see-through” when bending or squatting. The collection reportedly remains available in LULU stores in North America.
The problems followed issues with the company’s Breezethrough line of clothing in 2024.
Wilson wrote in his post:
This is a new low for lululemon. Pulling back the “Get Low” product line after three days is clearly a total operational failure. This comes just 17 months after the failed launch of the “Breezethrough” leggings, a product line also discontinued for similar product flaws. I’ve believed that lululemon has lost its cool for some time, but it is now evident to me that the Company has completely lost its way as a leader in technical apparel. For years, lululemon’s results (particularly in North America) have shown how the Company has struggled to deliver products that are compelling and beloved; now it is unable to simply deliver products that work.
Despite any finger pointing internally following this mishap, this is 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. How could anyone reach a conclusion other than the Board continues to make decisions that are destroying the brand and the stock price?
What product quality testing did the Board review? How often does the Board review the product pipeline? Are leaders empowered to make the best product decision or simply pushed to the lowest cost decision?
I believe a leading Board would have a Brand Product Committee and have asked these questions.
Wilson provided a link for Certain Information Concerning the Participants in the proxy fight that includes Wilson, Anamered Investments Inc., LIPO Investments (USA), Inc., Wilson 5 Foundation, Wilson 5 Foundation Management Ltd., Five Boys Investments ULC, Shannon Wilson, Low Tide Properties Ltd., House of Wilson Ltd., Marc Maurer, Laura Gentile and Eric Hirshberg. The group, collectively named as the Participants, intends to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A and accompanying GOLD Universal Proxy Card to be used to solicit proxies from the shareholders of Lululemon Athletica Inc. in connection with the 2026 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Image courtesy Lululemon Athletica Inc.
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See below for additional coverage from SGB Media:
Lululemon Pulls Online Sales of New “Get Low” Leggings Range After Customer Complaints
Report: Lululemon Founder Seeks PE Firm Advent’s Removal in Board Fight
EXEC: Lululemon Founder Launches Proxy Fight Over Board Seats, New CEO Pick
