Vancouverite, Chip Wilson started Lululemon, an athletic ware company, in 1998 to fill the growing demand for female athletic clothing. After extensive research and hard work, on November 2000, Wilson opened his first Lululemon store in Kitsilano and never looked back.
Since then, Lululemon’s popularity has sky rocketed and has eventually made Wilson into a billionaire.
On a recent interview on Bloomberg TV, Wilson quickly put his company at risk when he made some controversial comments. When questioned about the shearness and piling of his products he commented that his company’s yoga pants “don’t work for some women’s bodies.” and that “Quite frankly, some women’s bodies just actually don’t work for it (Lululemon pants).”
Many people have taken these comments as an attack on women who do not fit the “ideal” stature, causing outrage among the public. Wilson was forced to release a formal apology video to recognize his mistake.
Although Wilson has caused controversy, Lululemon as a company will not sustain any major blows. Due to previous consumer experiences and the established culture of the company, loyal customers will continue to support Lululemon and allow this storm to pass.
Sources:
http://www.theprovince.com/Chip+Wilson+apologizes+Lululemon+comments/9145765/story.html
http://www.lululemon.com/about/history