The Decibel
The Decibel
The Globe and Mail
Luluemon’s fight to stay on top of athleisure
25 minutes Posted Aug 12, 2026 at 9:00 am.
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For years, the Canadian athletic-wear brand Lululemon both pioneered and dominated the athleisure retail market. It turned workout gear into a status symbol, growing its international operations to 30 countries. But there’s trouble – a public battle with its founder, controversies over its marketing and a cratering stock price have all amounted to serious problems for the once-stalwart brand.
Susan Krashinsky Robertson, The Globe’s retailing reporter, dives into the issues Lululemon faces, crunches the numbers of its financial outlook and asks what happens when a big brand loses its cool.