10 Things You Didn't Know About Lululemon

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Image via Complex Original
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If see-through pants and #asspirational selfies are all that comes to mind when you think Lululemon, you have a lot to learn. Here are a few facts to snag that yogi at the gym, get informed, or jumpstart your yoga lifestyle.

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No. 10 - The brand sponsors the annual SeaWheeze Half Marathon in Vancouver. 

You're too late for this year though, it fills up fast! More info here.

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No. 9 - The full name is Lululemon Athletica.

The final name was chosen by a survey taken of 20 brand names and 20 logos.

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No. 8 - Founder Chip Wilson is a Celebrity in His Own Right. 

Former CEO and Founder Chip Wilson (yeah, this guy) is a classic foot-in-month kinda guy. Known in the media for choosing to call the brand Lululemon because he found it funny that Japanese people couldn't pronounce the letter "L." In 2011, the company printed "Who is John Galt?" on their shopping bags as Wilson is a huge Ayn Rand fan, and he's been known to link the introduction of the birth control pill and smoking for high divorce rates... pause, along with this gem: "Ultimately, Lululemon was formed because female education levels, breast cancer, yoga / athletics and the desire to dress feminine came together all at one time." Wilson has since resigned his role with the brand.

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No. 7 - Lululemon has a little sister!

Ivivva Athletica targets girls from age 6 to 12. Lower price point with brighter color options, many women today are converting their sizes for a secondary fix.

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No. 6 - Fans of Lululemon have their own language.

Not unlike sneakerheads, their popular Wunder Under Crops and Pants are abbreviated to "WUCs" and "WUPs." When the brand adds new items to their website (ususally on Monday nights at 12AM), they are called "uploads." Lululemon's sales associates are called "educators." Like most athletic brands, their proprietary technology has names like Swift, Luxtreme and Luon to describe their performance-enhancing benefits.

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No. 5 - The brand once claimed that seaweed incorporated in clothing was performance-enhancing.

The 2007 investigation was conducted after The New York Times disputed SeaCell's anti-flammatory, antibacterial, hydrating and detoxifying benefits. To be fair, this was at a time when many brands staked claims in performance enhancing fabrics that were far from the truth. The brand still uses the fiber from time to time as adds a softer feel to cotton blends.

Manduka Pro Yoga
Image via Amazon

No. 4 - Naked Yoga Offers Rewards. 

A 2002 marketing strategy offered a free outfit to anyone who would stand naked in the store window for 30 seconds in select locations.

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No. 3 - The stylized "A" logo is based off of one of the store's previous working titles, "Athletically Hip."

The "A" stayed.

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No. 2 - Those inspirational quote bags have it all.

It's not all "Dance, sing, floss & travel." Sometimes it gets...

Weird: "You only have 30,000 days to live and then you are dead."
Raunchy: "Some brief or quick-fix incidences when our minds are clear to be creative are... when drunk or stone... just after an orgasm."
Inaccurate: "Stress is related to 99% of all illness."

But as of lately the brand has traded in the quotes for more tasteful totes in minimal designs.

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Image via NY Mag

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Image via NY Mag

No. 1 - Every Lululemon offers free yoga classes.

So if you're in the market for a new pair of yoga pants or not, the occasional ommmm sesh can't hurt. Enjoy!

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