Kelsey Coles closet is stuffed with Lululemon: a backpack, skorts in every color, and leggings she pairs with Stuart Weitzman boots for her job as a venture marketer. Not just her closet, but her top drawer is full too. Comfier Lululemon sports bras have all but replaced traditional underwire bras.
Kristin Marquet feels equally passionate about her Athleta clothing. More than 75 pieces of Athleta, mostly bought online, are her go-tos for running her branding and design firm, doing errands, and going on weekend date nights with her husband. For sure, my wardrobe has become more stretchy and sporty over the years, she said.
While traditional mall traffic dwindles and retailers trim back locations (according to Coresight Research, 7,567 stores will close this year), Lululemon and Athleta, a subsidiary of Gap Inc., have seen their fortunes rise and store traffic increase as athleisure becomes ath-lifestyle.
This goes beyond wearing yoga pants for Sunday brunch. The ath-lifestyle is about biking to work, powering through meetings and memos, and heading out to dinnerall while wearing one stretchy, sweat-wicking, SPF-providing, wrinkle-resistant outfit. Born from gym-wear, yes, but much sleeker.
I would never ever call either of our [personal] styles athleisure, Cole said, referring to how she and her partner, Angelo Dodaro, dress for work. Dodaro's been known to pair Lululemons ABC pants with a $1,400 John Varvatos blazer. Cole added: You really cant tell were in performance wear. No one has ever noticed.
The ath-lifestyle isn't just growing more polished, its showing up in high-end fashion. Chanel models wore bike shorts during the spring 2019 runway show, as did Fendi and Dior. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have long proposed that Lycra is luxesee every Yeezy collection ever.
Thanks to consumers who love Lulemon's mix of function with a dash of fashion, the companys stock is up more than 50% this year, while its revenues are up 22% year-over-year. The $3.3 billion Vancouver-based companys comparable store sales, profit margins, and full-priced selling all rose during its second fiscal quarter.
Nobody has the loyalty and the ability to sell full-price the way that Lululemon does right now, said John Kernan, a research analyst with Cowen.
"We each spend at least $2,000 a year at Lululemon," said Cole, again including Dodaro. "With their focus on work wear now, that number could go up."
Athleta has grown at a 23% compound annual growth rate since 2012. The brand had revenues of $883 million in 2018 and are on track to reach a billion this year, said the company's chief marketing officer Sheila Shekar-Pollak. Parent company Gap Inc., which is spinning off Old Navy and shuttering 200 Gap stores, pegged Athleta as its growth vehicle in a presentation to investors earlier this month. The company opened 25 new Athleta stores this year, more than initially planned, and inked a deal to open Athleta franchises internationally.
Activewear, a roughly $57 billion market according to the NPD Consumer Panel, has been among the strongest and fastest-growing apparel sectors for the past decade.
A decade ago, we needed three or more wardrobesone for work, one for the weekend, and maybe a half-wardrobe for Saturday night. Now we want one wardrobe of multi-function pieces, said Matt Powell, sports industry advisor for NPD Group.
Both Lululemon and Athleta are bidding hard to provide that one, multitasking wardrobethe pieces that are easy-care, packable, lightweight, and stylish. Cole, who travels constantly for work, said Lululemon's leggings don't weigh down or take up too much space in luggage, and they can be hung to dry overnight in hotel rooms.
"Women are living busier and more fluid lives," said Athleta's Shekar-Pollak. "They need product that keeps up with their lifestyle and expect their wardrobe to deliver ultimate versatility."
In recent visits to Boston-area stores byFortune, both retailers had fashion-flavored pieces, such as drapey, tie-waist shorts and cropped pants, positioned at the front. On Athletas website, best-sellers include a $198 blazer (touted as packable, tear-resistant, and with 50+ ultraviolet protection) and $118 stretchy jeans (suggested use: hiking or climbing).
Athleta was first to the party in seeing that sport-inspired garments had everyday appeal, said Jane Hali of retail investment research firm Jane Hali & Associates. However, Lululemon is catching up fast.
Buoyed by its strong OTC (office, travel, commute) collection and ABC (anti ball-crushing) pants for men, Lululemon continues to explore what else loyalists might buy. A trial run of personal care items, including deodorant, dry shampoo, and moisturizer, was so well received that CEO Calvin MacDonald said in an analyst call that the company would add more products before the end of the year. Lululemon is also going to launch a sneaker line, but has not said when they will be available.
Rather than trying to bump each other out of the race, Athleta and Lululemon are developing differentiated but loyal audiences: a Coke versus Pepsi, if you will. To outsiders, the pieces look similar, but insiders switch loyalties less than youd think.
Nope. The brand doesnt resonate with me. I dont identify with that consumer, said Athleta enthusiast Kristin Marquet when asked if any of her $5,000 a year activewear spend goes to Lululemon.
Powell said, in general, Lululemon courts premium-spenders more actively than Athleta does. In July, Lululemon opened their "Sweat Life" brand embodiment: a multi-level store with a caf, studio classes, and shopping in Chicagos Lincoln Park neighborhood. A second experiential store will open in the Mall of America in Minneapolis.
While Lululemon aims for an insider experience, Athleta touts everywoman empowerment and sustainability. The brand has doubled down on providing clothing for women by extending size ranges to 3x. (Parent company Gap Inc. has, for the moment, addressed men's clothing through Hill City, a new performance-lifestyle brand.) In 2018, Athleta became a B Corp, which comes with fair trade, waste reduction, and sustainability pledges. In its investor presentation, Gap Inc. said seven of 10 customers said sustainability is important in purchasing decisions.
Of course, theres plenty of competition from other brands. Nike sells more womens activewear in the US than anyone else, according to NPD, and CEO Mark Parker said he is bullish on growing that business. And brands from Outdoor Voices (stretchy stuff for #DoingThings) to Ministry of Supply (performance workwear), have taken aim at the intersection of movement and comfort. Then there are newcomers including Epoquee Evolution (we believe in one wardrobe doing it all) founded by two former Athleta employees, and Aday, which offers technical, seasonless, sustainable clothing sold in travel-ready assortments.
Is the ath-lifestyle here to say? If you seize each day as Kelsey Cole does, the answer's yes.
Bottom line, we live in a fast moving world, Cole noted. Our clothing needs to match the pace at which we run. And let's face it, we're running in far more places than the gym these days.
Old Navy is about to sail away from Gap Inc.and into some choppy waters
A new distillery tells the trueand often untoldorigin story of Tennessee whiskey
Makers Mark is making its first-ever limited-release bourbonBig-box rebound: How Target packaged a turnaroundRent the Runways monthly subscription could be a game changerFollow Fortune on Flipboard to stay up-to-date on the latest news and analysis.
Read the original here:
Bye, Athleisure. Lululemon and Athleta Want You to Live Your Best Ath-Lifestyle - Fortune
- Bodies of Empowerment Personal Training - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- Series On Personal Empowerment at Psychology, Philosophy ... - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- Empowering Women - Self Empowerment, Personal & Spiritual ... - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- Empowerment and Strengths-Based Perspective: Social Work - January 8th, 2017 [January 8th, 2017]
- Top 100 Womens Empowerment Blogs | Psychology of Eating - January 8th, 2017 [January 8th, 2017]
- Empowerment Theory - Springer - January 8th, 2017 [January 8th, 2017]
- radKIDS.org - The national leader in children's safety - January 8th, 2017 [January 8th, 2017]
- Personal Empowerment Program : World Youth - January 8th, 2017 [January 8th, 2017]
- Personal Empowerment - Life Change 90 - January 12th, 2017 [January 12th, 2017]
- 'This is a phase of empowerment' - The Hindu - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- 'Pink' actress joins campaign for women empowerment - The New Indian Express - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Help yourself, Feb. 8 - Casper Star-Tribune Online - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Making Sure Americans' Longer Lives Are Healthy - Next Avenue - Next Avenue - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Senator announces legislation to protect seniors from fraud - WSYR - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Here's who will share a personal tale of 'Behind the scenes' at Coachella Valley Storytellers Project - The Desert Sun - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Another Voice: Land trust will empower Fruit Belt residents - Buffalo News - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Tech is empowering women, and it's great for business - GreenBiz - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Town Crier: Help Yourself - Casper Star-Tribune Online - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- WE Are Women's Philanthropy - Jewish Exponent - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Boston's Office of Financial Empowerment Wants to Spread the Wealth - Next City - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Empowering the Data Subject - Manila Bulletin - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- The Ripple - Olney Daily Mail - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- The Problem With A 'Shoppable' Presidency - Forbes - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Making Sure Our Longer Lives Are Healthy Ones - Forbes - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- L'Anse Creuse Community Action Coalition Hosts 16 Annual Dialogue Day - Patch.com - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Town Crier: Help Yourself | Town Crier | trib.com - Casper Star-Tribune Online - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Springs School News, February 16 - 27east.com - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Northwest Credit Union Foundation partners with BALANCE to provide personal finance training to MESA participants - CUinsight.com (press release) - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- 5 Steps To Validate Your Business Idea Before Getting Started - Forbes - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Katy Perry Dances Till the World Ends and MIA Starts a New Wave - New York Times - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Fire service receives funding to deliver 'personal development ... - Wiltshire Times - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Milk Makeup Is Celebrating Its Anniversary With A New Campaign - NYLON - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Bells University, New Horizons sign MoU On ICT empowerment for students - NIGERIAN TRIBUNE (press release) (blog) - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Mastering Trump's mastermind: Sebastian Gorka and the struggle between Islam and the West - EUROPP - European Politics and Policy (blog) - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Melinda Gates Credits Contraception With Her Personal and Professional Success - Slate Magazine (blog) - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- 4 Low-Cost Benefits That Majorly Boost Employee Healthiness - Tech.Co - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Ajit Pai's digital empowerment agenda is good news for rural America - The Hill (blog) - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Humana, JE Dunn among top winners at Healthiest Employers Awards (SLIDESHOW) - Atlanta Business Chronicle - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- The Vagina Monologues Grabs Back Female Empowerment - The Stanford Daily - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- The truth about Ivanka's Trumped-up, me-first feminism - Macleans.ca - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Fake becomes legit: social media and the rise of disinformation in democracies - Democratic Audit UK - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- Pink Gloves Boxing: Women's class focuses on empowerment ... - The Missoulian - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- On Presidents Day, we celebrate the good ones - Daily Astorian - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- Shaking The Fear Of Breastfeeding In Public - Huffington Post UK - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- OUR VIEW: On Presidents Day, we celebrate the good ones - East Oregonian (subscription) - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- Transformation of South Africa needs high sense of consciousness for social justice for success - Thought Leader - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Middle school girls receive empowering messages at Beautiful U - WOTV4women.com - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Teaching Our Kids Real from Fake - Huffington Post - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Weekly Music Roundup: Big Beautiful Day, Cubafonia, & "Carol" - WNYC - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Impact 100 members tour remodeled STEP Training Center - TCPalm - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar conducts DSN Prog online - Daily Excelsior - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Bloomfield Company Uses Disney Princesses To Promote Female Empowerment - Patch.com - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Viewpoints: The case for expanding Empowerment Scholarship Accounts - AZCentral.com - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Apple Music just released an album made on an iPhone ... - Computerworld - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- "The Farting Sex Tourist" Is Both Deep and Deeply Silly - PopMatters - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Personal trainer focuses on client empowerment - Olean Times Herald - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Pushing past barriers: Program aims to foster empowering female relationships - West Central Tribune - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- Town Crier: Sunday's Highlights - Casper Star-Tribune Online - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- MILCK comes to Portland this week to emPOWer - Oregon Music News - February 27th, 2017 [February 27th, 2017]
- Sippican to Implement 'radKIDS' Defense Program - Wanderer - February 27th, 2017 [February 27th, 2017]
- Personal trainer focuses on client empowerment - Clearfield Progress - February 27th, 2017 [February 27th, 2017]
- Black History Month: Recovering Our Personal Narrative - Muslim Link - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Judge Holds NYPD's Feet to Fire on Press Credentials - Courthouse ... - Courthouse News Service - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Federal Judge Says NYC's Regulation Of The Press Will Go On Trial - Village Voice - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- The Jamaican Women of Florida, Inc. (JWOF) elected a new Board of Directors - Jamaicans.com - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- This women's sport you've never heard of is taking Israel by storm ... - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Consult a psychic - for empowerment - Philly.com - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Digital Inclusion Summit: Training, Partnerships Are Key - Rivard Report - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Electing Caliban: Assessing Civic Health in Post Truth America - Huffington Post - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]
- Krejci named 2017 Woman of Achievement - Southernminn.com - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]
- Film spotlights human trafficking as Trump promises action - The Republic - March 6th, 2017 [March 6th, 2017]
- COMMENTARY: Empowering the homeless to take the next step ... - Delaware State News - March 6th, 2017 [March 6th, 2017]
- BEP hosts women empowerment conference - The Brown Daily Herald - March 6th, 2017 [March 6th, 2017]
- Family planning key to women empowerment - K24 TV - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Jeremiah Program Gives Families Home to Help Rise Out of Poverty - TWC News - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- What the Health Documentary Shocks, Educates, and Empowers - Clearly Veg (blog) - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Westfield HS to Host Female Student Empowerment Symposium - Patch.com - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Our view: Sports program for disabled students is welcome - Winston-Salem Journal - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Video Of The Week #24: Astroid Boys Foreigners (Feat Sonny Double 1) - God Is In The TV - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- International Women's Day 2017 Be Bold For Change - St. Lucia Times Online News (press release) - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]