Lululemon Athletica Inc.

founder

Chip Wilson

launched another salvo this week in his bid to reshape the company’s board of directors.

In a withering

LinkedIn post

on Wednesday, Wilson blamed the board for the “total operational failure” of Lululemon’s “Get Low” product line, which the company removed from its website this week after customers complained about the collection’s sizing, fit and see-through fabric.

“Despite any finger pointing internally following this mishap, this is not the fault of any hard-working employees. This is the fault of the Board,” he said.

Wilson noted in his post that the Vancouver-based retailer faced a similar issue in 2024, when it launched and then discontinued its line of “Breezethrough” leggings, which featured a V-shaped seam in the front and back that many customers found unflattering.

“It is clear that persistent failures like this are born out of this Board’s lack of experience in creative businesses, disinterest in product development and quality, and focus on short-term, self-interested priorities,” Wilson said in his post.

A representative for Wilson declined to comment.

In a statement to the Financial Post, a Lululemon spokesperson said that the company paused online sales of its Get Low collection in North America last week to “review guest feedback and insights.” They said they have since updated their product information and incorporated new guidance on fit, sizing and features to better support purchase decisions.

“We take our guests’ feedback seriously and value their input in shaping the products and experiences we create. … The Get Low collection is now back online and continues to be available in stores and in other markets,” the spokesperson said.

Chip Wilson stepped down from the company’s board of directors in 2015 but remains one of its largest shareholders and arguably the most vocal critic its strategic direction, leadership and product innovation.

Wilson’s latest comments come after he launched a proxy fight at the end of December, following the announcement that chief executive Calvin McDonald would step down at the end of January.

In a Dec. 29 press release, Wilson said Lululemon is “special, but in need of change” and announced his plans to nominate three independent candidates for the board of directors at the company’s 2026 annual shareholders meeting, which usually takes place in June.

Wilson’s nominees are Marc Maurer, former co-chief executive of Swiss sportswear company On Holding AG; Laura Gentile, former chief marketing officer of ESPN; and Eric Hirshberg, former chief executive of Activision, the largest segment of video-game publisher Activision Blizzard.

  • Lululemon pauses online sales of leggings amid complaints they were too sheer
  • Lululemon surges as CEO exit offers chance at strategic reset

In a Dec. 29 press release, Lululemon said it will “review and consider” Wilson’s nominations in accordance with the board’s governance process and will “present a formal recommendation” in the company’s proxy statement ahead of the annual general meeting.

Lululemon dominated the premium athleisure market in the 2010s with its signature $98 leggings and yoga apparel but has come under pressure in recent years due to rising competition, product assortment issues and U.S. trade policies, including the end of the

de minimis exemption

from shipping duties.

As of Thursday, Lululemon’s share price has fallen nearly 50 per cent over the past year.

• Email: jswitzer@postmedia.com