Why is Lululemon called Lululemon and what it means

Lululemon is one of those names that quickly come to mind when the topic is about luxury activewear and designer sportswear. It is a Canadian multinational brand that piqued interest in Australia and all over the world. The brand established a loyal customer base, ranging from yoga pants to gym essentials. Many Australians are drawn to its sleek branding and often wonder: Why is Lululemon called Lululemon? If that’s your question, you’re in the right place.

This article covers everything about the fascinating history of the name and explores how it continues to create excitement today.

Let’s enter the world of Lululemon 

Lululemon is a Canadian multinational that is known mainly for affordable active sportswear. It was originally designed for yoga. The brand was founded in 1998, but it has since expanded to encompass various sports, including running, training, and casual wear. It offers creative and high-quality products to both men and women via in-person shopping and its website. In this way, the brand established an active, creative, and healthy lifestyle, and social cohesion. 

Salient features of Lululemon    

Some salient features of Lululemon are mentioned below:

• Founder and history: Chip Wilson established Lululemon in Vancouver, Canada, in 1998. Its first store was opened in 2000, and it is integrated in the United States as Lululemon Athletica Inc. 
• Athletic Apparel: Lululemon is renowned for its high-tech gear, such as yoga pants, tights, and other everyday wear for training, running, and many other activities. 
• Industrial fabrics: The company’s goal is to provide high-quality fabrics with qualities, like four-way stretch, softness, and hydrophobic properties.  
• Social priority: Besides the products, the brand builds community hubs; spaces for people to engage and discuss mindfulness, a healthy way of living and life goals.
• Global reach: The company has hundreds of stores internationally and a premier digital footprint.
• Market expansion: The company started in yoga wear and branched into accessories, footwear, and grooming products.

Why is Lululemon called Lululemon?   

The founder of Lululemon, Chip Wilson, intentionally chose its name. The main reason for this quirky name was that it contains three Ls, which he considered to be humorous for Japanese speakers. Chip believed that the people who speak Japanese would face difficulty in pronouncing that sound. Furthermore, he did this as a marketing tactic for enhancing the brand’s value in the Japanese market. Here is a comprehensive analysis of why Lululemon is called Lululemon: 

The ‘L’ sound stratagem 

Chip Wilson thought that some Japanese speakers would face difficulty in pronouncing this peculiar name, and it was a way of amusement for him. 

Marketing approach  

Wilson aimed for this apparent challenge to be a creative selling point for the brand in Japan. He thought that it would help to make the name memorable.   

How the name Lululemon sparked controversy  

The name Lululemon sparked a new debate in the online community, as the founder of this company, Wilson, stated in an interview that he intentionally selected the name with three Ls to represent the difficulty Japanese people face in pronouncing the letter L. It was a way of entertainment for Wilson. Moreover, there was no intrinsic meaning of the name, but it resonates as ‘Western’ and ‘exotic’ to Japanese customers. This was perceived as a prejudiced and offensive remark, particularly since the letter ‘L’ is not in the Japanese language.  

Key points of the controversy:

• Racialism: The founder, Chip Wilson, stated in a 2004 interview that he picked the name because he thought it was funny watching Japanese people try to pronounce it. 
• Target marketing: Wilson intended to create a name that sounded ‘Western’ and ‘exotic’, which reflects a disrespectful and exploitative branding identity, rather than an inclusive one. 
• Comment timing: The comments were received at the start of the company, but became more visible and criticised in the later years, when conversations about the company’s morality and the public statement of Wilson escalated.

Nevertheless, despite the debate, the brand’s profile remained strong, and Australians chiefly focused on the durability rather than the origin story.  

Did the name Lululemon help the company grow?

The unconventional name helped the company and its success. Here’s how the name Lululemon helped the brand to become popular:  

• Memorable Identity: Consumers remember the company because the odd name is more unique than other brands.
• Universal recognition: The ‘L’ sound made the company distinct from other brands like Nike, Adidas, and Puma. 
• Inquisitiveness: The name gained the attention of many people, as they frequently asked, ‘Why is it called so that?’ It sparked conversations and raised awareness.

In this way, the name played a central role in making the company popular.  

Lululemon in Australia

Lululemon enjoys a high profile within the big Australian cities (Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne). Their stores are often full of athletes, and the name Lululemon has become a reference point for designer tights or workout gear. In the Australian community: 

• It is an icon: Many Australians see Lululemon as an element of their culture. It is part of their yoga journey. 
• It has survived: Lululemon has become iconic, regardless of its strange history.
• Community principle: Many stores now offer yoga and fitness classes focusing on the community around a name.

So, Lululemon is still favoured as a classic icon nationally.

The central idea

• Originally conceived in Canada by Chip Wilson in 1998.
• The name was picked out to sound Western, exclusive, and mischievous.  
• The name does not have an intrinsic meaning but remains remarkable for its branding power. 
• Australians assumed the quirky name beside the company’s reputation and quality apparel. 
• The brand continues to flourish despite controversies. 

Conclusion  

So, why is Lululemon called Lululemon? Because Chip Wilson wanted to create a name that contained three Ls and sounded Western and exotic to Japanese buyers. The name is a blend of factors, like ingenious branding, cultural perceptions, and a slight contention. While the story behind the name is surprising, there is no doubt that it worked to make the brand popular. In Australia, the memorable name of the brand is now a part of daily fitness culture. It serves as proof that sometimes peculiar names leave a lasting mark.