Athleisure news and trends

Lululemon’s Cult Status Faces Checkout Uncertainty 
Retail // December 07, 2023

When it comes to Lululemon and its customers, the brand seems to create a retail cult following, leaving many to wonder: What’s the secret sauce that makes these customers so committed to this athleisure temple of sorts?  “One of our competitive advantages is our ability...

Can Alo Yoga Persuade Consumers to Pay Couture Prices? 
Retail // October 20, 2023

Premium and luxury are not the same.  In the world of fashion, premium brands strut their stuff by offering top-tier products that outshine mass-market alternatives, all while keeping prices at a runway-ready level for a wider audience.   On the other hand, luxury brands tend to...

Hush Puppies Retailer Pivots as Consumers Embrace Fashionable Sports Footwear
Retail // August 28, 2023

The convergence of casualization, comfort, and personalization has become a potent force, reshaping the way people perceive and interact with brands.  The modern consumer is seeking more than just clothing and accessories — they seek a reflection of their values, needs and identity. The intersection...

Lululemon, Abercrombie & Fitch Thrive on Elevated Comfort Trend
Retail // June 07, 2023

The fashion landscape has experienced an interesting transformation, breaking free from its association with discomfort and (as grim as this sounds) sacrifice.   The comfort trend initially gained traction during the pandemic as people sought solace and ease while spending more time at home. Sweatpants, loungewear...

Interviews & Exclusives
Hush Puppies Retailer Pivots as Consumers Embrace Fashionable Sports Footwear

August 28, 2023
The convergence of casualization, comfort, and personalization has become a potent force, reshaping the way people perceive and interact with brands.  The modern consumer is seeking more than just clothing and accessories — they seek a reflection of their values, needs and identity. The intersection of casualization, comfort and personalization has given rise to a […]

Women’s Sneaker Startup Hilma Takes On Nike With Word-of-Mouth Campaign

October 06, 2022
She wasn’t an athlete or even a casual runner. She didn’t burn with the ambition to form her own company. She was looking for personal growth, to push her own...

Why Lululemon’s $500M Mirror Deal Is A Muscular Move Into ‘Contextual Commerce’

July 01, 2020
In a move that caught much of the world off guard, athleisure giant Lululemon announced plans this week to buy home-exercise technology startup Mirror for an impressive $500 million. The...

What’s Really Behind The ‘Fab’ In Fabletics?

November 03, 2017
This fashion subscription service is legging it away from the classic apparel retail model, and celebrities like Kate Hudson and a new membership approach to making products available to consumers...

Quick Reads
Focus on Outdoor, Athleisure Trends Lifts Wolverine’s Merrell, Saucony Brands

August 10, 2022
In the face of growing economic headwinds, footwear and apparel maker Wolverine Worldwide said its continued focus on meeting strong consumer demand for outdoor and athletic shoes drove record second quarter revenue, driven my double-digit gains in Merrell and Saucony, its top two brands. Even so, company executives reduced their outlook for the year, citing […]

Fabletics Backs Brick-and-Mortar Growth With OmniSuite Platform

January 30, 2020
To create a frictionless commerce experience across channels, Fabletics, which was co-founded by Kate Hudson, is bolstering its physical presence with the creation and implementation of a cloud-based enterprise retail...

Analyst Sees $40B Market Cap For Lululemon

December 04, 2019
Cowen believes Lululemon could be the next Nike, as it raised its price target on the stock to $250. “Assuming LULU can sustain an NKE-like free cash flow multiple, we...

JD Sports Rides Popularity Of Athleisure

July 03, 2019
With the growing demand for gym wear and strong sales for new locations, British sportswear retailer JD Sports predicted that full-year profit would fall in line with expectations. Shares of...