Drop It Like It’s Hot Tank, Drop It Like It’s Hot Pant
Scuba Hoodie III
I am in love with the Heathered Bark Berry
Karma Kurmasana Sweater
I’m sorry, I have to rant again. This is literally the worst Fall for Lululemon in the past 6 years. Not because the product sucks (I do like a lot of the new product and the quality and design is there overall) but because they have very little product debuting and it’s just insane to me that they are continuing to segregate product offerings each week. Canada is really getting ripped off on all these new Cool Racerbacks and Go The Distance Jacket options, no Fuel Green Studio Pants and the US has been ripped off with many items as well. This is just really turning off your loyal customers. And then, because there is such little product available to debut tonight both sides have old product on the ‘What’s New’ landing page which they did last week as well. A reader just pointed out to me the joke that is the Wrap It Up Bra which is really their Wrap It Up Tanks recycled into bras. it’s true! Check out the color thumbnails. This is literally the last week of Fall product since next week is the intro to Winter and I’m shocked that Lululemon has lost so much momentum from since September. This is their busiest and highest profit season and they are just cobbling together uploads week after week, and limiting items from one country to the next. What do you guys think of this Fall/Winter vs previous years? Is it boring as *f and a major let down to you?
The one thing that I’m looking at, besides that RULU Cool Racerback that I want and cannot get in Canada, is the new Drop It Like It’s Hot Tank. Too bad that Canada and the US only got it in 4-12 and not the full size run like the UK got this morning. Those are really intriguing to me since they are mesh back, luxtreme front, braless and solid colors.
The Fluffiest Vest (CAN)
Cool Racerback *RULU (US)
None for Canada of course. Instead Canada upload is populated with old release items.
Go The Distance Jacket (US)
Again, no Go The Distance Jackets for Canada.
Kris Cross Crop (US)
Kanto Catch Me 1/2 Zip (CAN)
Can’t Stop Wont Stop Pant II (CAN)
Drop It Like It’s Hot Tank (CAN/US)
Drop It Like It’s Hot Bra
Vent It Out Singlet (US)
Energy Bra (CAN/US)
Define Jacket Herringbone (US)
Really Lululemon? We see what you did here. The Gator Green Wrap It Up Bra has the dual tone swatch which shows the color of the bottom of the tank.
Drop It Like It’s Hot Tank, Find Your Mantra Pant
Find Your Mantra Pant
Drop It Like It’s Hot Bra
Run Times Short
Rest Less Pullover
Base Runner Pants, On The Double Pullover
SO tempted to get a second pair of Base Runner Pants.
Karma Kurmasana Sweater
&Go Cityfarer Anorak
I’m liking this jacket a lot in this picture
Define Jacket Space Dye Camo Forage Teal
&Go City Pullover
Heathered Sapphire Swiftly
Need! OMG this is gorgeous!
Drop It Like It’s Hot Tank
I’m interested in this tank in the Menthol
Karma Kurmasana Sweater
Kanto Catch Me 1/2 Zip
On The Double Pullover
Grrrr! Once again, the item I am interested in is US only. Why can’t Canada get the Bon Bon Cool Racerback too? Or the Cosmic Dream, or the Heathered Fuel Green???
I have fallen in love with the On The Go Scarf! Last month I had ordered the Bundle Up Scarf because I was liking the blankie scarf trend that I’ve been seeing everywhere but the Bundle Up Scarf was not a great fit for me so I returned it. The lapels on the Bundle Up Scarf where very fussy for me getting them to lay just so, and the scarf seemed too short in the back. I felt like I really had to adjust it properly to have it lay exactly the right way. Also, the lapels where quite overwhelming on my frame. I am really loving the colorway the US got for the Bundle Up though in the Minkberry. So gorgeous! I may have forced myself to make that one work.
This On The Go Scarf is a much better fit for me since it zips up and it sits on the bias all the way around. I really love the contrasting zipper detail which makes it quite edgy and not so ‘busy PTA mom’. I also really love that there is a seam at the shoulder which creates a pocket for your shoulder. It’s just such a nice seam detail that creates a really pretty neckline. The material is nice and soft merino wool but without having the commitment of having to wear a too warm wool sweater. I’d love to see this come in a solid Minkberry. If the Bundle Up didn’t work for you but you really wanted a blankie scarf then give this one a try!
Lululemon announced today that they’ve made strategic changes to their creative executives and eliminated Tara Poseley’s roll as Chief Product Officer who will be leaving the company, and added the roll of Creative Director and are blending the design direction of both Men’s and Women’s. Lee Holeman has been named as Executive Vice President and Creative Director. Dr. Tom Walker has been promoted to Senior Vice President of ‘Whitespace’ (basically R&D). Dr. Tom Walker has an interesting video on youtube talking about product innovation in athletic apparel if you are interested in watching, Stretchy Pants and Margin Gains. It really gives you an idea of the direction the company is headed in R&D and some of the sports psychology behind the rebranding of the pants wall and repricing.
I really respect the field of margin gains in sports but I wonder if that matters to you as wearers of Lululemon? Are you finding the urge to be so competitive that your sports wear is the pivotal difference in your performance? Those of you that are marathoners, ultra marathoners and triathletes? I definitely think this fills a niche for Lululemon that they’ve been needing to set themselves apart from their competition which is quick on their heals. R&D is the #1 way to give their product value to investors for sure. That and patents and trademarks which Lululemon did not do at the start (which Kit and Ace has been wise to do). It makes the brand image more valuable to investors but will it do the same for you as customer? I’m finding myself gravitating to brands that are offering the same comparable adequate (and even superior) functionality and the same design focus but with better value vs. gravitating to the more highly technical brands. Maybe the interest with the highly technical will grow on me with the marriage of design, but there is absolutely a price threshold for me as a consumer and none competitive athlete. There are brands that are competing with Lululemon that are more fashion focused and high street, and there are brands competing that are more technically focused and the cost for those brands varies wildly. The one thing I have always had an appreciation for Lululemon for is the value, and the perceived value of the product. It seems they are wanting to grow themselves out of the high street athletic apparel market but I’m not sure all customers will grow with them.
Another thing of note is the greater focus on the men’s line over the women’s line (hasn’t women’s been languishing this Fall so far?) which is reflected in this new merging of men’s and women’s design executive teams. Uploads with men’s product featured on the landing page, social media pages directed at male customers, product alert emails focusing on men’s line and much less visual marketing to women or social media merchandizing photo shoots. Is it a coincidence that the executive changes are now male focused? They’ve made so many changes to their head office employees and I’m seeing so many familiar female names leaving the company over the past 6 months. I realize that they are broadening their brand laterally into mens and Ivivva since that is where they are seeing growth and women’s but I am missing some of that estrogen driven aesthetic.
What do you guys think? What do you think this means for the brand and future designs?
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lululemon Announces Organizational Changes to Elevate Design and Innovation
Lee Holman Appointed as Company’s Creative Director VANCOUVER, British Columbia–(BUSINESS WIRE)– lululemon athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) today announced strategic changes to its organizational structure that further elevate and reinforce the Company’s design and innovation-driven brand focus. Lee Holman, formerly Senior Vice President, Women’s, has been appointed as lululemon’s Executive Vice President, Creative Director, effective immediately. In this new role, Mr. Holman will oversee both Men’s and Women’s product design and will report directly to lululemon’s CEO, Laurent Potdevin. “Standing out requires a fierce commitment to constant innovation in functional performance. Our unwavering dedication to a singular design vision and craftsmanship has made us the global market leader in the category we’ve created and continue to define,” said lululemon’s CEO, Laurent Potdevin. “Changes to the organizational structure, including the new role of Creative Director, are critical to executing upon our 10-year vision,” added Mr. Potdevin. As a result of these changes, lululemon has eliminated the role of Chief Product Officer. Tara Poseley, who joined the Company in October 2013 as Chief Product Officer, will be leaving the Company after a transition period. “We greatly appreciate Tara’s contributions, including the build-out of strong product, innovation, and merchandising teams, and we wish her continued success in the future,” said Mr. Potdevin. The establishment of a Creative Director position will further unify Men’s and Women’s design under a singular creative vision, strengthening the design ethos of the brand. Mr. Holman joined lululemon in 2014 with 20 years of design and leadership experience, including senior positions at Nike, where he served as Creative Director of Nike Sportswear and most recently as Vice President of Global Apparel, Innovation and Equipment Design Men’s & Women’s. Prior to Nike, Lee was Creative Director for high profile brands such as Burberry, and spent several years at Abercrombie & Fitch, Levi Strauss & Co, and Paul Smith. Mr. Holman obtained his MA Fashion Design from Central Saint Martins. Felix del Toro, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Men’s, will continue to oversee the Men’s business and will report to Mr. Holman. Dr. Tom Waller has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Whitespace™ reporting directly to CEO Laurent Potdevin, further reinforcing product R&D and innovation as the core pillar and growth driver for lululemon. Whitespace, lululemon’s team of scientists and engineers, will continue to drive long-term innovation. Prior to joining lululemon in 2012, Dr. Waller was Head of Aqualab at Speedo International. As Director of R&D at Progressive Sports Technologies, he provided strategic consultancy to global brands, as well as federation and elite athletes. Stuart Haselden, Chief Financial Officer, will assume broader operational responsibilities adding Executive Vice President, Operations to his title. As operational excellence continues to be a key priority, lululemon has begun a search for a newly created position of Chief Supply Chain Officer reporting into Haselden, who will be responsible for continuing to optimize the company’s scalable, global supply chain across multiple categories. About lululemon athletica inc. lululemon athletica (NASDAQ:LULU) is a yoga-inspired athletic apparel company that creates components for people to live long, healthy and fun lives. By producing products that help keep people active and stress free, lululemon believes that the world will be a better place. Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional designs, lululemon works with yogis and athletes in local communities for continuous research and product feedback. For more information, visitwww.lululemon.com.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151021006544/en/
ICR, Inc.
Source: lululemon athletica inc. |
There was a major shakeup today at Lululemon HQ which I’m hoping to write about later tonight. Basically, Lululemon has made some major organizational changes to ‘elevate’ design and innovation. Chief product officer Tara Poseley is out and they’ve eliminated the roll of ‘Chief Product Officer’ entirely and created ‘Creative Director’. How those two positions are different I have no idea. It almost seams like they are reorganizing from a athletic apparel retailer brand to mimic more of a high fashion house brand creative department Any of you have any intel on that?
On The Go Scarf
Darn it I keep looking at this On The Go Scarf in black and really liking it. I went to my store today to see if they had it in to try on so I could put it out of my mind and they didn’t have it in. Have any of you tried it on?
On The Double Pullover, Gather & Crow Crop II
Base Runner Pant III
Turn Around Tight
