The able-bodied apparel company Lululemon launched its second store in Federal republic of germany on cease of October, 2017 after building a network with showrooms since 2013. Founded in Vancouver, Canada in 1998, Lululemon still feeds not only the customs of yoga-crazed merely also running, cycling and training sections. We talked to Lululemon's general managing director EMEA Gareth Pope, almost the expansion in Europe and how
the brand remains on the forefront of the market which includes Amazon and s.Oliver.

Yogawear

Yogawear

Your new store in Munich marks a further step in conquering Europe with the Lululemon brand. What's crucial about this market place, where exercise you come across differences between the American and European customers?

International is one of our near meaning opportunities and drivers of growth, we expect the business concern outside of North America to contribute $1bn in sales by 2020. While Due north America has been leading the active, mindful lifestyle for virtually 2 decades, what's fascinating is the acceleration of this mode of living across the world. We are finding that consumers are increasingly intentional with what they cull to buy, existence drawn to brands and products that offer profound impact on how they feel and perform throughout all aspects of their life.

Why did yous cull Munich every bit the location for your new store? What take yous establish out nearly the German customer via your first store in Hamburg and then far?

Nosotros are proud to have been building a community in Munich since September 2013, when we launched our showtime showroom, and to at present be opening a new store in the city. Our unique exhibit approach enables us to enter new regions by building community momentum, giving usa a better understanding of local needs which in plough informs our store strategy.
We take seen that our local guest in Munich is increasingly living an agile life. Both in terms of their practice patterns as well as how they live outside of the gym or yoga studio. Nosotros besides find the Munich guest to understand product quality, with a willingness to pay for a premium product.

Lululemon Store Munich

Lululemon Store Munich

Exercise you have any further (retail) expansion plans on the European continent?

Yes.  As our European commonage continues to expand and thrive, and with sales upwards l% in the second quarter year over twelvemonth, we believe that in that location is a meaning and exciting long-term opportunity for Lululemon across the region.

From Amazon to s.Oliver – information technology seems that each (fashion) make and retailer is recently coming up with their ain sports apparel line. What practise you lot think about this and how do you fight confronting these lower toll competitors?

Having operated in a competitive market place for almost two decades, we know that our approach differentiates us. Lululemon was founded on a community-led brand model, best in form product innovation and human connection, brought to life by a calorie-free and highly-localized shop footprint. We remain at the forefront of the market we created, being the visitor that defines an active, mindful lifestyle and designing products we know will solve our guests' bug.
Nosotros believe that consumers in general are looking at value more than toll alone. Our products are priced based on a commitment to the value of fit, functionality and premium materials.  Through our stores and ambassadors, nosotros create communities that share a sense of belonging and empowerment which transcends our products.  For case, every week our stores plough their spaces into yoga studios, with free classes led by local instructors and ambassadors.

Lululemon Store Munich

Lululemon Store Munich

What's your bestselling product category? Are we still in a leggings heyday – and is there whatever category that could supercede them?

Our Boogie Pant – recently historic by the New York Museum of Modern Art in their exhibition of iconic vesture – was where information technology all began for us in 1998, and yoga pants or leggings continue to be a cadre part of our business concern. Nether our design principle Engineered Awareness we divers the scientific discipline of "feel", which is our principal lens when creating all of our product, led by neuromechanics scientists in our WhiteSpace lab. This has created some truly category-defining innovation, with recent examples including our newest technical operation fabric Everlux, the Align pant and Enlite bra for women, and ABC pant for men. Our men's concern offers an incredible opportunity – equally more than men discover our make and product, we encounter the potential for this to contribute $1bn in annual sales in the next few years.

Lululemon Store Munich

Lululemon Shop Munich

What are the dominating Lululemon-trends for south/s 2018?

Our in-business firm R&D team WhiteSpace – which includes former NASA scientists, anthropologists and psychologists – are continually looking to the future, developing products that our guests didn't know they needed. Our guests will continue to see new innovations in Engineered Sensation to support performance potential during their pursuits, every bit well as "To & From" products created to carry them to and from work, home or the studio.

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