Advertisement
Canada markets open in 7 hours 34 minutes

  • S&P/TSX

    21,885.38
    +11.66 (+0.05%)
     

  • S&P 500

    5,048.42
    -23.21 (-0.46%)
     

  • DOW

    38,085.80
    -375.12 (-0.98%)
     

  • CAD/USD

    0.7330
    +0.0007 (+0.09%)
     

  • CRUDE OIL

    83.98
    +0.41 (+0.49%)
     

  • Bitcoin CAD

    88,042.47
    +378.05 (+0.43%)
     

  • CMC Crypto 200

    1,388.82
    +6.24 (+0.45%)
     

  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,347.50
    +5.00 (+0.21%)
     

  • RUSSELL 2000

    1,981.12
    -14.31 (-0.72%)
     

  • 10-Yr Bond

    4.7060
    -4.6520 (-49.71%)
     

  • NASDAQ futures

    17,770.00
    +202.50 (+1.15%)
     

  • VOLATILITY

    15.37
    -0.60 (-3.76%)
     

  • FTSE

    8,078.86
    +38.48 (+0.48%)
     

  • NIKKEI 225

    37,981.96
    +353.48 (+0.94%)
     

  • CAD/EUR

    0.6829
    +0.0008 (+0.12%)
     

More quality problems? New complaints on Lululemon website about yoga pants pilling, too sheer

Michelle Chapman, The Associated Press
The front of a Lululemon Athletica store is seen in downtown Victoria, B.C., on June 9, 2013. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

By Michelle Chapman, The Associated Press

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Just a few months after Lululemon Athletica pulled yoga pants from shelves because they were too sheer, costing the company millions in sales, it's fielding new complaints about quality.

The Canadian company had blamed the problems from spring on a style change and production issues.

New yoga pants have since made their way into stores, but there are recent complaints on the Lululemon Facebook page and its website about pants that are still too sheer. There are also complaints about pants pilling after a few months of wear — or even just a few uses — and about holes and seams coming apart.

ADVERTISEMENT

The fresh batch of problems could alienate the retailer's legion of hardcore fans who have been willing to shell out $100 or more for yoga pants. These followers helped Lululemon, founded in 1998, ring up $1.4 billion in sales last year.

Lululemon is trying to put the see-through yoga pants snafu behind it. It's looking for a new CEO after its current chief executive, Christine Day, said in June she was planning to leave. On Thursday, it announced it had hired a new chief product officer, bringing in a Kmart leader to fill a role that had been left vacant.

"Lululemon will certain face new challenges if the pilling and seam problems are real," said Sterne Agee analyst Sam Poser in a research note.

One complaint from Lululemon's website on Oct. 10, about the company's Astro pants, read: "I bought these pants on September 25, two weeks ago. Have worn them once for yoga, once for walking, and once for weights/cardio. Have washed them once hung to dry. They are already showing pilling in the thigh area."

Another, from Oct. 30, about a Wunder Under pant: "Very disappointed that these are STILL SHEER."

Lululemon is responding to some complaints, telling customers to get in touch with the company.

The company did not respond to emails seeking comment Friday.

Shares of Lululemon Athletica Inc. closed down $1.24, or 1.8 per cent, to $67.85 Friday, off 11 per cent in 2013.

___

AP Retail Writer Anne D'Innocenzio contributed to this report.