# Lululemon Athletica: Chip Wilson (2018)

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2020-02-24
- Length: 54m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-24-lululemon-athletica-chip-wilson-2018

## Summary

Chip Wilson, founder of Lululemon Athletica, explains how he identified the yoga trend in Vancouver and built a multibillion-dollar brand by combining technical fabric innovation with a community-driven retail model. He details his journey from selling 'barbecue shorts' and snowboard apparel to creating the first flat-seam athletic wear, and discusses the strategic decisions that led to Lululemon's rapid scaling and eventual public offering. Wilson also addresses the 2013 'sheer pants' recall and his controversial comments that led to his departure from the company he founded.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-24-lululemon-athletica-chip-wilson-2018#t=0) Introduction: Chip Wilson and the Lululemon Story
- [6:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-24-lululemon-athletica-chip-wilson-2018#t=413) Early Career: West Beach, Barbecue Shorts, and Snowboarding
- [17:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-24-lululemon-athletica-chip-wilson-2018#t=1079) Identifying the Yoga Opportunity and Product Innovation
- [26:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-24-lululemon-athletica-chip-wilson-2018#t=1573) Building the First Store: Yoga Classes and Flat-Seam Technology
- [33:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-24-lululemon-athletica-chip-wilson-2018#t=2021) Scaling Strategy: Word-of-Mouth Marketing and Global Expansion
- [37:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-24-lululemon-athletica-chip-wilson-2018#t=2240) Going Public, Losing Control, and the 2013 Recall Crisis
- [48:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-24-lululemon-athletica-chip-wilson-2018#t=2887) Post-Lululemon: Reflections and New Ventures
- [50:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-02-24-lululemon-athletica-chip-wilson-2018#t=3017) How You Built That: Kate Westervelt and Mom Box

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, companies scaling up, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Lululemon Athletica (company)
- West Beach (company)
- Homeless (product)
- Moral Snowboards (company)
- Sim Skateboards (company)
- Dick's Sporting Goods (company)
- Nike (company)
- Spanx (company)
- Mom Box (company)
- U.S. Bank (company)
- Capital One (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [006: Customizable swimwear with Kelsey Duffy of Versakini](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2016-04-19-006-customizable-swimwear-with-kelsey-duffy-of-versakini) (Product Startup)
- [Founder Feature: Max Luthy of Plink!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-04-18-founder-feature-max-luthy-of-plink) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Zoe Levin of Bim Bam Boo](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-03-21-founder-feature-zoe-levin-of-bim-bam-boo) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [050: Creating environmentally-friendly athletic apparel,  Tim Christian of OORR](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2017-04-25-050-creating-environmentally-friendly-athletic-apparel-tim-christian-of-oorr) (Product Startup)
- [095: Solve End-User Pain for Consumer Product Success](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-09-29-095-solve-end-user-pain-for-consumer-product-success) (Product Startup)

## Citing this page

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