Lululemon
Lululemon Athletica Inc. · Canada
Lululemon is a Canadian athletic apparel company that popularised premium yoga wear and the athleisure trend. Founded in Vancouver by Chip Wilson and listed on Nasdaq, it named former Nike executive Heidi O'Neill as chief executive from 8 September 2026.
| Founded | 1998, Vancouver |
|---|---|
| Founder | Chip Wilson |
| Owner | Lululemon Athletica Inc. (Nasdaq: LULU) |
| Headquarters | Vancouver, Canada |
| Chief executive | Heidi O'Neill (since September 2026) |
| Revenue | 10.6 billion dollars (fiscal 2024) |
| Website | lululemon.com |
What is Lululemon?
Lululemon (styled lululemon) designs and sells technical athletic apparel for yoga, running, training and casual wear, along with footwear and accessories such as yoga mats and bags. The company, Lululemon Athletica Inc., reported revenue of 10.6 billion dollars in fiscal 2024 and operated 767 stores.
History
Chip Wilson founded the company in Vancouver in 1998, and the first standalone store opened in 2000. Lululemon went public on Nasdaq in 2007 and opened its first European store in London in 2014. It expanded menswear from 2019, acquired the home fitness company Mirror in 2020 and launched footwear in 2022.
Leadership
Calvin McDonald, chief executive from 2018, left in January 2026. Meghan Frank and André Maestrini served as interim co-chief executives until Heidi O'Neill, previously president of consumer, product and brand at Nike, was appointed to take over on 8 September 2026, according to Digital Commerce 360. Founder Chip Wilson, a major shareholder without a formal role, ran a proxy campaign that ended with a board agreement in May 2026.
Products and positioning
- Women's leggings and yoga wear
- Men's training and casual wear
- Running and training footwear
- Accessories such as bags and mats
Business model and distribution
Lululemon operates a vertical model, selling mainly through its own stores and e-commerce, with community events and brand ambassadors central to its marketing. It runs a resale programme called Like New and in 2024 agreed to take over the operations of its franchise partner in Mexico.
Why it matters
Lululemon created a new category of premium activewear worn far beyond the gym and showed the power of a direct-to-consumer model built around community. Slower growth and intense competition from newer athleisure brands make its leadership change in 2026 one of the most closely watched in the industry.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the CEO of Lululemon?
Heidi O'Neill, formerly a senior executive at Nike, became chief executive of Lululemon on 8 September 2026. She succeeded Calvin McDonald, who left in January 2026, after a period with interim co-chief executives.
Where is Lululemon from?
Lululemon is a Canadian company founded in Vancouver, British Columbia, by Chip Wilson. Its headquarters remain in Vancouver.
