One of the most beloved sports and leisure clothing brands not only in the US but around the world is Lululemon. (lulu) – And for good reason.
From Calabasas to China, yoga enthusiasts and cardio queens are flocking to Lululemon stores for the chance to take home their own yoga pants, running tank tops, sports bras, or now, even sneakers. sport.
Related: Walmart Makes $1 Billion tech Acquisition That Will Delight Customers
Around the world, those familiar wood- and brick-clad walls feature different colors and sizes of the brand's best-selling products, from $98 pairs of Align leggings to $68 Swiftly T-shirts that rarely go on sale. And while nearly $100 for a pair of sweatpants may seem extravagant to some, to others it's the pinnacle of fashion.
It's not just the price that attracts customers. Lululemon is popular primarily for its buttery soft materials, which are used to make everything from leggings, shorts, t-shirts, and tank tops, using the so-called “science of touch.” Many labels have tried to replicate what makes Lululemon so soft, but the truth is that there aren't many other products that are as soft and flexible.
Lululemon develops new material
A third reason some people love Lululemon is because it has long advertised itself as a socially conscious company. Take a look at their website and you'll see models of all shapes and sizes, plus plenty of discussion about how Lululemon is doing its part to take care of the planet.
And while that commitment has come under varying degrees of scrutiny in recent months, the multinational company certainly appears to be making progress in mitigating its carbon footprint. Lululemon has outlined four main pillars that it wants to work on to improve as it works towards global domination.
“Our plan focuses on the four areas of our carbon footprint: products and packaging, manufacturing, transportation, and owned and operated facilities,” a Lululemon spokesperson told TheStreet, adding: “We are proud to have met our energy goals. 100% renewable”. electricity and a 60% absolute reduction in greenhouse gas emissions at our owned and operated facilities.”
And on Tuesday, Lululemon announced it was moving toward pillar one: products and packaging. The company introduced its new material, Nylon 6.6, which is made from recycled nylon, the material used to make many of its most popular products, including the Align and Wunder Train leggings.
Lululemon partnered with materials technology company Samsara Eco to develop Nylon 6,6, saying it had already manufactured samples of the Swiftly tech Long-Sleeve Top. In the samples, 90% of the nylon used to make the shirt was made using Samsara Eco's enzymatic recycling process, which takes nylon at the end of its life stage and combines it with other “non-textile materials” to recreate the nylon. Since nylon is notoriously durable but pulls and stretches easily, this is the first time the material has been used in this way. Environmental advocates say many of the materials Lululemon uses are difficult to recycle and end up in landfills for 200 years or more.
Currently, Luluelmon's original Swiftly tech Long Sleeve T-shirt retails online and in stores for $78. Lululemon did not comment on whether its new Nylon 6,6 products would change the pricing structure or when customers can expect their release.
