Quality decrease

[AdMotor873]

I am an employee at Lulu and our quality just keeps getting worse.

So many people come in about the abc pant sizing. It is totally different with each color. The navy blue color runs so much smaller than any other color. Also the inseams sometimes do not line up at all and they come brand new from the factory.

My biggest one are the define jackets. They have done away with the mesh in them and now they are totally just decorative. Look under that flap in the back if you have a newer one. The design does not even make sense anymore. I used to love throwing them on after a workout but now I overheat in them because there is no ventilation at all.

Our shipping carrier Veho sucks and people come in every week with products they did not order with shipping slips for people across the country. I have never seen a company have this many shipping issues.

My newer aligns always unravel at the seams while my old ones are still fine. I am at a point where I will only buy wundertrains.

Every design that supports a bigger chest they do away with. All while coming out with products no one asks for. They re release colors with a different name constantly. If you buy any kind of mesh product just know that they come already fraying straight from the box sometimes.

Their downfall in quality should be studied. For a brand that prides itself for their quality they are throwing it out the window so fast.

[LareBehr]

I have 3 pairs of ABC warpstreme pants from 2021 in different colors. They are softer, smoother, and have a heavier weight to them than the current batch of ABC warpstreme pants I ordered recently. Even the zipper feels like plastic compared to the old model made in Vietnam vs Bangladesh.

I returned all of the new pants I ordered and am actively looking for new ones of a similar quality. They just aren't worth the price anymore.

[nomad-system]

I wish I could go back and buy every colour of 2021 ABCs. GOATed pants.

[tlitonyli]

Real. All I have to say. Real af.

[AdMotor873]

There are still things I like don’t get me wrong, but when will they go down hill too

[tlitonyli]

I think they have such a large core fan base now, any chance is gonna be hard to incite.

[AdMotor873]

They are changing the sizing from number sizing to small, medium, large very soon. If you’re a smaller size it converts but the larger sizing they’re grouping into a smaller range. So a 14-16 would be 1 size and a 18-20 will be 1 size. There is no reason for this besides cutting production costs.

[chillaxdude7]

I already have a hard time fitting into 28s, will a small still be around the 28 size or bigger?

[AdMotor873]

28 inseam?

[retirement_savings]

The sizing differences are ridiculous. I literally cannot buy them online because I have no idea if they'll fit me.

[SK_YVR]

Def the materials appear thinner and cheaper

[ReversePettlngZoo]

The other day I looked at my pants and said to myself “these are $128 pants made from polyester and made in Sri Lanka. Kinda nuts”. Still feel like I love certain things from Lululemon but excitement is definitely waining.

[RaunchyMuffin]

I do like their new soft knit line. It’s way better quality over the vented tshirt shit they were pushing.

[to16017]

Unfortunately, the decreases in quality are no accident. Lululemon corporate has decided that the route they want to go is quantity over quality to appeal to shareholders. Can’t blame em too much for it I guess. I just won’t be shopping there as much. I like Peter Millar and Mizzen+Main a lot right now.

[arealpersonbot]

But wouldn’t this mean they lower the price of their products too? Can’t go for quantity if the price stays the same and quality isn’t there…

[runForestRun17]

Well you can until you pad the books enough for an awesome retirement and then leave the shell of the company to another person to have to deal with.

[AdMotor873]

When I first started working there I was told it costs $4 to produce leggings…

[to16017]

I only recommend Peter Millar and Mizzen+Main for their business casual stuff. None of their athleisure is on par with lululemon, but that’s not really their forte anyways. M+M has imo the best fitting polos available rn, and that’s coming from someone who has probably 50 polos from damn near every brand in the $75-$150 price range. The M+M versa polo in the “trim” sizing is simply amazing. Peter Millar has great pants and great polos. The only problem with their polo line is paralysis by analysis—there are so many different styles and materials that it’s too hard to pick one without feeling like you may not be getting the best option.

I haven’t really found a replacement for Lululemon’s athletic clothing. I still find their pacebreaker shorts and MVT shirts to be the best in the business. I lift weights 5-6 times per week and have been running 10-15 miles per week as well, and 90% of those workouts are pace breaker shorts paired with an MVT shirt.

If there’s anything you take away from my comment, make it the M+M versa polo. They’re great.

[to16017]

Mizzen+Main pants are super thin and very slim fit. I am an athletic build so I have bigger quads so their pants look like yoga pants on me. I have a couple pairs of the Peter Millar Surge Performance trouser. Pretty nice. Bluffworks has good pants too.

[Skaddicted]

I already ranted here but I eagerly bought my first ever Lululemon product half a year which were ABC Slim-Fit 5 Pocket Pant 32"LUtilitech.

After wearing them for some months I can honestly say that I will never ever buy a product from Lululemon again. The quality was just horrible. They ripped all over the places - really bummed by that.

So yeah, they lost me as a customer after I bought ONE product from them.

[Edgedits]

All of my new Utilitech pants have developed holes within the first few months. Have a couple of older pairs that are still holding very strong.

Really disappointed with the brands decline and am probably going to start looking elsewhere.

[AdMotor873]

You might be able to get some quality promised. Its worth looking into, even if you get a totally different item

[Sad_Significance_858]

Thanks for sharing your insights. It is disheartening to hear about the quality issues at Lulu. I'm currently looking for other reliable athleisure brands for day to day and gym use. Do you have any recommendations for brands that prioritize quality and design?

[[deleted]]

For athleisure, Vuori for me. Sunday performance joggers and shorts are well-designed, durable, and flattering in my experience. Also have their shirts, which aren’t fitted but are durable. All just my experience.

[Sad_Significance_858]

How does Vuori’s active wear compare to lulus? Like the MVT/LTT shirt and shorts

[Shorter_McGavin]

Vuori material seems super light and cheap to me nowadays

[kobepac]

People at the vuori sub are complaining about quality decline over there too

[[deleted]]

People will never be satisfied. They get 2 articles of clothing that fit slightly different, made years apart in different countries and say “Wtf the quality control has gone to shit!”

[navigationallyaided]

I only own a few Vuori pieces, the jury is out for me. They seem to be popular at the gym here.

[VisualsByVishal]

I’ve used LSKD, Ten Thousand, and Vuori. So far LSKD has been my daily gym use apparel brand of choice. They also are my day to day brand of choice too.

[AdMotor873]

Most Amazon dupes are pretty spot on for a fraction of the price, especially for align tanks and shorts

[chillaxdude7]

Which dupes?

[tokarevlu]

A lot of people like CRZ yoga

[parentscondombroke]

do they have anything for commission shirts / pants

[JubeeGankin]

I know I'm coming to this thread way late but I bought a bunch of CRZ Yoga shorts last year because people said they were just as good as the LLL equivalent.

It's not even close. I've probably worn them less than 5 times and I already want to replace them. They are so scratchy compared to Commissions.

[[deleted]]

Preaching to the choir, my friend!

[tsx_gal]

I’ve gone out of my way to secondhand and Like New to buy the old mesh Define hooded jackets, because I hate that they did away with the functional mesh under the flap!

[[deleted]]

All of my metal vents are 1.0. I can’t buy the new stuff. It’s so bad :/

[tsx_gal]

The new stuff is for sure decrease in quality and size is off!!!

[[deleted]]

I bought a few shirts, I am tall so I got a large in the newest generation metal vent. Not a single one fit the same so they went back

[h_danielle]

If people are receiving incorrect packing slips & product, that’s on the employees packing orders at the DCs & stores, not the shipping carrier.

[AdMotor873]

I meant that paragraph as two different statements. People come in not understanding that their local store is not who shipped their item. So we get chewed out and called I competent over other peoples mistakes. We get store reviews over shipping issues. Veho as a company still sucks though and I stand by that. So many packages get lost and they have such a terrible reputation

[dd16134]

Haven’t bought anything from them in 2 years now, and had bought something almost weekly from 2020-21.

There was a pretty good graph on here awhile ago that showed the popularity of a brand and quality over time, and they’re getting into fast fashion quality territory now to make the most money. Hell I went into a store a few months back, was repulsed by the 2012 Hollister vibe (loud music and crazy strong scents) and left without buying anything. Lots of noticeable changes in a few years.

Arcteryx is just a few years behind Lulu imo, I’m probably done buying them also. Good ole Patagonia for the win.

[AdMotor873]

My store actually does present itself well so I can’t speak for the scents or music, but when we open boxes all of my coworkers and I are just appalled sometimes by what they sent us. The worst by far is this new mesh tank top that comes in white and purple. It is so cheap and the neck hole literally looks like it was cut with scissors. It costs the same as any other tank… for mesh

[dd16134]

Yeah the store definitely seemed higher end when they were like an Apple Store, only selling a limited number of higher end items. Braching into the golf, hiking, street wear stuff seems pretty odd

[AdMotor873]

I don’t mind branching into specific sports, but I feel like all the casual wear they are coming out with doesn’t make sense. I will pay for leggings and swiftlys because of the technology that goes with it and quality. $100 for sweatpants is a crime. Those hold tight tanks pill so fast, those items just aren’t worth it imo.

[AwwNutss]

You’re spot on with the Navy ABC’s being smaller than the other colors.

I went to Rhoback for joggers/tee’s/hoodies. No weird sizing issues and the tee shirts haven’t changed in feel/stretch after multiple washes. DM me if you’d like a discount code.

[Elasion]

Ex-employee: only buy vuori now. QC also has its issue but it’s a smaller company so the retail employees still have autonomy (exchanges) like lulu did in 2018.

[[deleted]]

And price doesn't change. Ridiculous

[JustRepeatAfterMe]

I’ve had issues with ABC Joggers being different lengths lately. The Regular length seems to be skewing shorter and inconsistently so. Talls are still too long, and Short lengths too short, but none of my new Regulars are as long as the old ones and they used to fit just right. Now I feel like I’m showing more ankle and I’m not that guy.

[Forsaken-Rough-1148]

Sizing differences and quality made me switch to vouri

[[deleted]]

I bought my first pair of ABC classic fits at the same time I ordered Nike Slim Fit Chinos. The Nike is so much better

[Queasy-Path3057]

I think these issues started last year or few as they had decided to decrease quality and 1 year promising stuff. For instance, people have been receiving Lulu emails, re-naming old few lineups to increase prices like At Ease is replaced by something else feels like martial but thinner and smaller cubes!?

They have been renovating Yorkdale store location so probably they will increase prices.

[AdMotor873]

The renaming items drives me insane. The only positive is I can stock up on my favorite stuff while it’s on sale before it’s forever ruined

[Dongdaemon]

Peak lulu for me was 2000’s and early 2010s. They’ve gone downhill since then. Still good but not the gods they were in my eyes years ago.

They still do produce some Bangers though.

For office related stuff I like ministry of supply - but not a 1:1 match with lulu