From CONTROVERSIES to killer SWEATPANTS, we have all heard of Lululemon. They have conquered the global sportswear market.
And their success is LARGELY in part because of their strategic manufacturing strategy. Wondering, where are lululemon clothes made?
You are in the right place if you wanna know how this works. So, you can STRATEGIZE with your Custom Sportswear Manufacturer.
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Table of Contents
Why Is Lululemon So Popular?
The success of Lululemon can be pinned down to a cocktail of factors. Yes, those soaring prices are NOT a deterrent. The truth is people love them because of their exceptional focus on quality.
When people get their leggings, they are guaranteed to have SOMETHING SPECIAL. These fit your body like a glove while being comfortable.
Plus, to be able to get QUALITY threads Lululemon sources their products from all different countries.
Only they had the EXPERTISE to bring together the materials and designs. Nowhere is this clearer than in their Align high-rise pants.
From the moment you put these leggings on you are sure that they are some of the SOFTEST and BEST FITTING in the market. The pants are made from Lycra, a premium fabric. Other popular pieces include Align high-rise crops.
The gym clothing company has been rocked by challenging CONTROVERSIES involving the CEO. But their reputation has been upheld by the premium quality of what they sell. Here’s a list about Best Lululemon Similar Brands.
Who Are The Lululemon Manufacturers?
It’s important to note that Lululemon has ZERO manufacturing plants of its own. Yes, that is right. So how are their clothes made?
Listen up: They outsource everything, which gives them a crazy COST-BASED ADVANTAGE.
So, spread across the world, you will find about 138 Lululemon supplier facilities. We’re talking about 45 TIER-ONE suppliers that get Lululemon garment production.
Plus, you get 60 TIER-TWO suppliers that are on dec for gym clothing fabric sourcing. These help supply Luon fabric, which is used in over 30% of Lululemon’s clothing.
The manufacturers are spread across over 20 six countries. We’ll have a look at the EXACT distribution and rationale in the next section. STAY locked in.
Expert musings: Using a dope selection of materials is the QUICKEST way to position your brand as premium. First on my list would be high-performance, sustainable materials. Think moisture-wicking recycled POLYESTER MESH, some breathable MERINO WOOL, and even GRAPHENE.
– Bill Macbeth OBE, Managing Director at Textile Centre of Excellence
Where Are Lululemon Clothes Made?
As we have HIGHLIGHTED before, their production is all over the globe. However, where are Lululemon clothes made? The locations can be broadly divided into North America and Asia.
A 2024 supplier List offers a more DETAILED picture of what’s going on. The top locations include China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Turkey, and Peru.
Lululemon sources specifically from EACH REGION because of what they have to offer.
Here are the reasons, in case you are curious:
China:
This is where most of the company’s clothes come from. It’s not hard to see why because China has one of the world’s most ADVANCED textile industries.
So Lululemon sources their Athleisure products from WELL-KNOWN suppliers in China, satisfying about 16% of sourcing. Think of the likes of Dongguan Ye Ji Industrial Co., Ltd. and Eclat Textile Co., Ltd. These have less than 1,000 and over 16,000+ employees, respectively.
Vietnam:
After China, Vietnam is a BUDDING global manufacturing hub. Here, they get full-on activewear threads and accessories, making up almost 33% of their needs.
The country is great for marrying quality CRAFTSMANSHIP with EFFICIENCY. Some of their partners include Hansae Vietnam Co., Ltd with about 470+ employees.
Taiwan:
Lululemon goes to Taiwan for super CUTTING-EDGE fabric tech. They get innovative materials plus sometimes FINISHED products, totaling about 4.4% of their sourcing. The brand’s textile partners include Eclat Textile Co., Ltd with 16,000+ employees.
Turkey and Peru:
The company gets very specific clothes for their product lines in Turkey from the likes of Liberty Textiles with 69 employees. That makes up about 2% of their needs. But in Peru, they go for PREMIUM cotton fabrics, accounting for 3.5% of their sourcing.
North America:
In North America Lululemon gets their supplies from Canada and the United States. Key American supplies include Antanova Fashions standing out <25 employees.
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A Table Distribution of Countries
Here is a more detailed breakdown showing you where are Lululemon clothes made? The distribution of TIER-ONE suppliers.
| Country | Number of Tier One Suppliers | Percentage |
| Vietnam | 37 | 32.74% |
| China | 18 | 15.93% |
| Sri Lanka | 12 | 10.62% |
| Cambodia | 10 | 8.85% |
| Indonesia | 7 | 6.19% |
| Taiwan | 5 | 4.42% |
| Philippines | 4 | 3.54% |
| USA | 4 | 3.54% |
| Peru | 4 | 3.54% |
| Bangladesh | 3 | 2.65% |
| Thailand | 2 | 1.77% |
| Turkey | 2 | 1.77% |
| Columbia | 1 | 0.88% |
| El Salvador | 1 | 0.88% |
| Haiti | 1 | 0.88% |
| Mexico | 1 | 0.88% |
| Portugal | 1 | 0.88% |
Supply Chain
Let’s take a peek BEHIND the curtain and see HOW the supply chain works.
- They do a thorough check on their manufacturers BEFORE and DURING the production.
- The company takes materials for sale quite seriously. You will see them put a lot of effort into chopping down any NEGATIVE INFLUENCE in this process.
- All the suppliers keep the ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS down in the supply chain.
- Lululemon wants to be the best buds for life with their suppliers. You see a heavy focus on LONG-TERM relationships.
Pro tip: Consider building long-term relationships as a BUSINESS STRATEGY. Some people overlook this, but it is a getaway to access exclusive perks. You can easily score discounts, flexible payments, and loyalty programs.
Lululemon Manufacturing Policies and Practices
- Ethical Manufacturing Practices
This brand cares about ethical production. Yes, your yoga pants will not be built by EXPLOITATIVE labor. Although their production is spread all over the world, they keep a KEEN EYE on suppliers.
How did they do it, you ask? All this is thanks to the Vendor Code of Ethics. This is prescribed all across the supply chain, like medicine.
That way, they can easily dot your I’s and cross your T’s in every country and location.
Talking consistency? Oh yeah, they achieve like it is a walk in the park.
Lululemon also has some notable WELFARE and factory initiatives you should know about. Have a look:
- ZERO TOLERANCE for child labor, slavery, and human trafficking.
- Upholding RESPECTABLE WAGES and benefits for workers
- Enabling proper workplace safety and FREEDOM from discrimination
- Giving employees SKILL IMPROVEMENT training and development
JaceApparel goes above and beyond what other Cut and Sew Manufacturers do. We use the latest tech to cut the materials, leaving little to NO WASTE. Plus, our stitching machines give you IMPECCABLE stitch work.
All of them are inspected by experienced craftsmen, able to catch the smallest errors. Establish a reputation based on quality and enjoy WORD-OF-MOUTH MARKETING.
- Sustainable Manufacturing Practices
Lululemon’s sustainability is on point. They are all about making as little of a DENT as possible in the environment.
The company had plans on getting to over 75% Sustainable Fabric Materials by 2025. We are talking about regenerative renewable and responsibly sourced materials.
Also, Lululemon works closely with Genomatica. This is a leading SUSTAINABLE materials innovator. So, what does this collab mean?
The brand has renewably sourced, bio-based materials to use in their products. That’s more proof that they put their money where their mouth is when it comes to sustainability.
Is Lululemon An Expensive Brand?
The short answer is yes. Lululemon is quite an expensive brand. They do not make any pretenses about it. It is PREMIUM PRICED compared to its competitors.
You can easily see this in their leggings, which is a specialty of this brand. Those typically go from $88 to $128.
Do you want a manufacturer that is EASY in your pockets? JaceApparel is your best bet. We give you flexible MOQs depending on your needs. Plus, you can NEGOTIATE prices.
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Is Lululemon Worth The Price Tag?
The answer here is NOT as clear as earlier. That’s because it depends on who is buying and what you’re looking for.
As a PREMIUM-FACING product, it is not priced based on the components used. People are buying more into the brand which is a bit subjective to quantify if it is worth it or not.
However, it’s worth noting that they go ham and the quality of all their products. The CRAFTSMANSHIP is exceptional. Plus, they go to wild lengths to ensure CONSISTENCY!
So, it is all up to the customer to decide. For Lululemon’s TARGET AUDIENCE, it is totally worth the price tag. But for someone who just wants quality sportswear, then it is a bit overpriced.
People Also Ask About Where Are Lululemon Clothes Made?
1. Does Lululemon’s manufacturing processes add to their products’ prices?
NO, the company’s manufacturing does not add to product prices. They’ve even structured it in such a way that It CUTS DOWN on their overall prices. However, it might increase the cost.
2. Which country supplies Lululemon’s fabric?
Lululemon gets its fabric from mainly China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Taiwan. The brand has material suppliers dotted across these countries. They will often work with Luon, among others.
3. Can I find Lululemon manufacturers on Alibaba?
No, you may not be able to find a Lululemon supplier on Alibaba. But, it is super easy to get the supplier list on the company’s CORPORATE WEBSITE. Alibaba will likely give you manufacturers with Lululemon-style materials.
4. Why do you buy clothes from Lululemon when competitor’s clothing is much less expensive?
People who buy Lululemon, even though it’s QUITE EXPENSIVE, go for it for a few reasons. The brand enjoys a HIGH perceived quality in the market, and its designs are said to be superior.
What’s Next
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Sources:
Lululemon – Lululemon Supplier List | April 2024
Quora – Where does Lululemon manufacture their clothes?
Reddit – While much more expensive, lululemon avoids manufacturing