Lululemon temporarily paused online sales of its new Get Low leggings across its North American website after customers complained the fabric was see-through, according to the company statement shared with CBS News.
The leggings remained available in North American physical stores and in other international markets online. The backlash revived comparisons to the company’s 2013 sheer-pants recall, which resulted in an estimated financial impact of roughly $57–67 million. Shoppers expressed concerns on platforms including Reddit, citing that the premium-priced leggings failed to deliver on expected performance standards.
Transparency Issues During Movement
In customer reviews and social media forums, shoppers reported that the Get Low leggings were not “squat proof”—meaning the fabric became transparent during bending or squatting motions.
Lululemon’s official product description positions the Get Low line as “designed to support guests as they train” and emphasizes its seamless technology, sculpted look, and fast-drying fabric. The company acknowledged receiving guest feedback and said it would work to help customers better understand the product’s fit and intended use.
Online Backlash and Social Media Response
Customers voiced frustration on Reddit and other social platforms, criticizing the product against the backdrop of Lululemon’s historical positioning around opacity and technical reliability. Some questioned whether premium pricing should guarantee reliable performance standards.
Photos and videos highlighting the sheerness issue circulated online, accelerating negative word-of-mouth during the initial sales pause.
Temporary Pullback, Updated Product Guidance
Lululemon removed the Get Low collection from its U.S. and Canadian websites while keeping it available in stores and international markets. The company stated it “temporarily paused online sales” to review feedback and update product education.
When the line returned online (as of January 24, 2026), Lululemon added specific guidance recommending customers size up and wear skin-tone, seamless underwear—a notable shift in how the brand communicated product usage instructions.
Founder Criticism and Governance Concerns
Founder Chip Wilson publicly criticized the situation in a LinkedIn post, calling it “a new low” for Lululemon and blaming the board for lack of experience in creative businesses and insufficient involvement in product development.
Wilson stated: “For years, lululemon’s results (particularly in North America) have shown how the Company has struggled to deliver products that are compelling and beloved; now it is unable to simply deliver products that work.” His remarks highlighted ongoing tensions around the company’s strategic direction.
Industry Expert Assessment
Retail analysts attributed the issue to potential production or vendor problems. Liza Amlani, principal and founder of Retail Strategy Group, noted that “the product creation process requires rigorous testing, fittings, and prototype approvals,” expressing surprise that such a quality issue passed standard industry testing.
Jefferies analysts called the withdrawal “a production or vendor issue” and warned that persistent quality lapses could undermine Lululemon’s premium positioning and “premium narrative.”
Global Availability and Market Complexit
While North American online sales were paused, the Get Low collection remained available through Lululemon’s websites in Europe and other international markets, as well as in North American physical stores.
This uneven geographic response reflected the company’s approach to managing a localized product issue while maintaining global availability.
Leadership Transition and Activist Pressure
The controversy unfolded during a significant leadership transition. CEO Calvin McDonald announced his departure effective January 31, 2026. CFO Meghan Frank and Chief Commercial Officer André Maestrini will serve as interim co-CEOs while the board conducts a comprehensive search for a permanent leader.
Additionally, activist investor Elliott Investment Management has been pushing for governance changes and has nominated directors to the board, adding pressure during an already complex period.
Prior Product Quality Issues
The Get Low issue was not the first quality challenge in recent years. In 2024, CEO Calvin McDonald acknowledged separate issues with the Breezethrough leggings line.
The repeated nature of such challenges has raised broader questions about Lululemon’s product development and quality assurance processes.
Competitive Landscape
Industry analysts note that Lululemon faces intensifying competition from brands like Alo Yoga and Vuori.
The Get Low controversy provides competitors an opportunity to emphasize their own quality assurance and product reliability to dissatisfied Lululemon customers.
Premium Positioning at Risk
Jefferies analysts warned that for a brand historically built on “technical superiority” and premium pricing, repeated quality issues raise questions about the durability of its innovation engine.
Analysts stated that “each quality lapse weakens the perception of technical leadership that warrants a higher valuation and increases the risk that consumers continue to allocate more spend to competitors.”
Organizational Leadership Challenges
Lululemon has experienced significant leadership departures beyond the CEO transition. Americas lead Celeste Burgoyne departed at the end of 2025, and former Chief Product Officer Sun Choe left in 2024 to join Vans.
These departures underscore broader organizational challenges during a period of product quality concerns and activist pressure.
Updated Product Information Standards
The addition of explicit sizing and underwear guidance to Get Low’s product page represents a shift in how Lululemon communicates product performance boundaries.
This updated approach reflects increased consumer expectations for transparency about fabric opacity and real-world performance characteristics.
Focus on Testing and Quality
Retail experts and industry analysts have emphasized the importance of rigorous pre-launch testing, fittings, and prototype approvals—standard industry practice that the Get Low issue suggests may not have been fully applied in this case.
Timing and Media Narrative
Coverage of the Get Low pause frequently referenced the company’s 2013 shear-pants history, framing the incident within a pattern of opacity-related challenges.
Commentators noted that the timing coincided with significant leadership transitions and activist pressure, magnifying scrutiny around product development oversight and execution.
Premium Brand Reputation Impact
Lululemon’s brand identity has been heavily built on reliable, high-performance leggings.
The Get Low issue and the company’s response (temporary pause, updated guidance, relaunch) represented the most visible reputation challenge related to product opacity since the 2013 recall.
Market and Analyst Response
Jefferies and other analysts flagged concerns about execution, product innovation, and the durability of Lululemon’s premium positioning.
The quality issue added to existing concerns about North American market softness and competitive pressure in the premium athletic-wear segment.
Consumer Trust and Word-of-Mouth
The Get Low controversy underscored the power of online communities (particularly Reddit) in shaping brand perception and consumer purchasing decisions.
Premium-positioned brands depend heavily on trust around performance claims; transparency issues can quickly erode that trust through digital channels.
New Leadership Priorities
Beginning February 1, 2026, CFO Meghan Frank and Chief Commercial Officer André Maestrini will assume interim co-CEO responsibilities.
Board Chair Marti Morfitt will serve as executive chair. Their immediate priorities include restoring confidence in product quality, addressing execution concerns, and navigating activist investor pressure—all in the context of an ongoing permanent CEO search.
Industry Lessons and Brand Resilience
For Lululemon, the Get Low episode reinforced how quickly premium brand trust can be tested when basic product performance claims are questioned.
For the broader premium athletic-wear industry, it served as a reminder that rigorous quality testing and transparent communication about product limitations are essential to maintaining premium positioning and consumer loyalty.
Sources:
- “Lululemon’s struggles mount, now with backlash against a new line of see-through pants” – MarketWatch
- “Lululemon’s founder says yoga-wear giant has ‘completely lost its way’” – MarketWatch
- “Lululemon pauses online sales of new workout line ‘Get Low’ after complaints” – Reuters
- “Lululemon pulls new ‘Get Low’ leggings from website after complaints” – USA Today
- “Lululemon’s ‘Get Low’ leggings return with new buyer warnings” – Investing.com
- “Lululemon pulls ‘Get Low’ leggings from website after complaints about fabric” – CBS News