The Canadian sportswear supplier Lululemon Athletica Inc. is breaking new ground: in the future, the Vancouver-based company, which is primarily known for its yoga clothing, will also offer sneakers.
Lululemon presented the first models in New York on Tuesday. The focus was on the “Blissfeel” running shoe. This should be available from March 22nd in the online shop and in selected stores in North America, China and Great Britain. The company announced three more models for the coming months. For the time being, Lululemon only wants to offer women’s shoes. According to the company, its own footwear collection for men will be launched in 2023.
Entering the shoe business is an “exciting moment” for the Lululemon brand, CEO Calvin McDonald said on Tuesday. “Shoes are a natural next step for us to expand.” This gives the company an opportunity to transfer its “long heritage of fit, feel and performance” to a new type of product. “We’re starting the footwear category the same way we built our apparel business, with products that address unmet needs and are made for women first,” said McDonald.