There’s more to Lululemon than just being the go-to apparel brand for yoga lovers. CNA Lifestyle visited its headquarters in Vancouver to find out more, from making eco-friendly clothes and running shoes to even organising an ultramarathon.
“In, in and hahhh…” The room was filled with drawn-out exhalations, which wouldn’t be out of place if this were a yoga studio. Except that I was in a R&D lab and we were just getting started for a day of presentations and Q&As.
“The tights are life changing,” enthused a friend, who sounded like I was visiting her motherland when I told her I was going to the brand’s HQ. “We worked for 18 months; it takes that long to get these fabrics,” said the team’s vice president Yogendra Dandapure. The new Run range includes the seamless Swiftly Tech top made with 100-per-cent recycled nylon and odour-inhibiting Silverescent technology; running tights with Nulux fabric; the Energy Bra for medium support; Fast and Free tank and shorts for men; and a ventilated packable jacket.
So how do they intend to bring sustainability to a winning product like Nulu? Through a partnership with Genomatica, a biofabric company in San Diego, the team is able to literally spin nylon yarns out of corn. Currently, the Swiftly Tech and Metal Vent Tech short-sleeved shirts are made of green nylon and are already available in the stores and online. But that is all the green nylon there is for now as the project is still in its pilot phase, said Stapp.
How long will we have to wait before your favourite Align leggings are planet-friendly? By 2030 when 100 per cent of Lululemon products will be made in a recyclable or renewal way, said Stapp. And just when you think they’ve maxed out their footwear game, they went and launched Blissfeel Trail just last month.
Stability is another biggie, which his team took care of with fin designs at the sides of each shoe's heel. “They help to guide the heel strike and minimise wobbling," said Atkins. Mood boards, foot scans and the Further athletes' testimonials all go into understanding what female ultrarunners need. What was apparent in the three days spent in Lululemon Land was the language spoken by its denizens. It centered around phrases such as “the science of feel”, “unmet needs” and “unlocking full potential”.
During my trip, they announced they were going to support 10 global ambassadors in their quests to run the furthest that they have ever done in a six-day ultramarathon aptly named Further. It’s set to take place on March 8 next year , with the location yet to be announced. And, of course, the brand will be kitting these women head-to-toe with products for their training and race days.“I HAVE NEVER RUN A MARATHON IN MY LIFE”
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