Lululemon founder Chip Wilson scorned for saying his pants ‘don’t work for some'

[VanessaofBC]

SOURCE: http://www.theprovince.com/news/bc/Lululemon+founder+Chip+Wilson+scorned+online+saying+pants+work/9138178/story.html

Lululemon founder Chip Wilson scorned online for saying his pants ‘don’t work for some women’s bodies’
BY GORD MCINTYRE, THE PROVINCE NOVEMBER 9, 2013

Lululemon founder Chip Wilson put his foot in his mouth this week during an interview on BloombergTV — and we’re not talking some exotic yoga pose.

Asked by host Trish Regan about pilling complaints and yoga pants so sheer they’re see-through, Wilson all but said the clothes are not meant for overweight women.

Claiming that even Lululemon’s small size would fit an extra large, he said “the rubbing through the thighs, how much pressure there is ... over a period of time and how much they use it,” ticking off causes of sheerness and pilling.

Regan looked stunned.
“There has always been pilling,” Wilson continued. “The thing is that women will wear seatbelts that don’t work, or they’ll wear a purse that doesn’t work, or, quite frankly, some women’s bodies just actually don’t work for it (Lululemon pants).”

The reaction online was fast and furious.

“Lululemon Founder Blames Yoga Pant Problems on Customers’ Thighs,” screamed Yahoo.com.

“Lululemon Founder Chip Wilson Blames Women’s Bodies for Yoga Pant Problems,” Good Morning America’s website chimed in.

“Shame on you for the roundabout way of calling women fat,” was a representative Facebook post. Another said, Wilson was “wading into full-on fat-shaming territory.”

On Twitter, Wilson was called “clueless and sexist,” among other things.

“Does Lululemon want women to be comfortable in their clothing or uncomfortable in our own bodies,” read one tweet.

Regan herself tweeted: “Ladies, you’re too fat for my yoga pants (!!?!), chairman tell me.”

Regan kept pressing on the show Street Smart, while Wilson’s wife Shannon, also on the show, attempted damage control.

Eventually Wilson tried to back-track.

Regan: “Not every woman can wear a Lululemon yoga pant?”

Wilson: “No, I think they can. I just think it’s how you use it.”

Rhona Raskin, a B.C. advice columnist and former radio and TV host dealing with sexuality and relationships, tweeted: “In my fantasy movie I’d have thousands of generous-thighed plus-size women in Lululemon-made see-through yoga pants occupying Point Grey Road.”

The Wilsons live on Point Grey Road.

Lululemon decline to comment, but two female employees at a Vancouver store rolled their eyes and shook their heads when asked for their thoughts.

The company has been prone to controversy of late.

Just last week, a store in Dallas got in hot water for seemingly belittling a campaign to help battered women, a charity named Family Place.

Dallas businesses were encouraged to put a “partners card” in their windows to help raise awareness and money for Family Place.

The Lululemon store instead put up a sign that said, “We do partners yoga, not partners card.”

After apologizing in the stormy aftermath, the store then came up with the brainchild “Gift of Yoga.”

Paige Flint, the charity’s executive director, responded: “Yoga is so much a part of their lives that they think everyone would love yoga, but yoga for a woman who was beaten is not the first thing on anybody’s mind at Family Place.”

Wilson, meanwhile, went on to tell Regan he’s probably “too wealthy” and busy with charities to consider returning to the job of Lululemon CEO — a position the couple have been trying to fill since Christine Day left in June.

 

[VanessaofBC]

Chip Wilson apologizes for Lululemon comments (VIDEO)

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LINK TO APOLOGY VIDEO

Chip Wilson apologizes for Lululemon comments

BY DAN FUMANO, THE PROVINCE NOVEMBER 8, 2013

Chip Wilson, the founder of Lululemon, released a video apology Friday evening, days after his controversial comments that his company’s yoga pants “don’t work for some women’s bodies.”

“I’m sad. I’m really sad for the repercussions of my actions. I’m sad for the people of Lululemon who I care so much about, that have really had to face the brunt of my actions,” Wilson said in the 52-second YouTube clip posted to Lululemon’s official Twitter feed shortly after 5 p.m. Friday.

Wilson had faced backlash and online scorn for his comments this week in an interview with Bloomberg TV. When asked about complaints of Lululemon pants being too sheer and pilling, the billionaire Vancouverite said the problem might not the pants themselves, but rather the women wearing them.

“Quite frankly, some women’s bodies just actually don’t work for it (Lululemon pants),” Wilson said. “It’s about the rubbing through the thighs, [and] how much pressure is there.”

On Friday, Wilson’s contrite message appeared to be mainly directed at his company’s employees. He did not retract anything he had said, or apologize to anyone who may have been offended.

“For all of you that have made Lululemon what it is today. I ask you to stay in a conversation that is above the fray. I ask you to prove that the culture that you have built cannot be chipped away,” he said.

 

[badbadboy]

OK, so then if a size 12 woman wears a size 6 pair of jeans and the button pops off, you become a “fat-shamer” for telling her to wear the right size?

I'm glad he only apologized to the workers, it's BS to think that you can fit into anything simply because Oprah says you can.

All hate to be posted below, thank you.
________________________________

No hater here


I've always said yoga pants should be sold with a valid licence to wear them :nod:

Now I do wear their tops and have some of their shorts but I know to steer away from the "athletic fit".

The CEO could have worded it better since his job is to raise the value of the equity of the company.

Unless this is like the intro of New Coke, he better have a back up plan because

Women can turn on a brand quicker than anything

 

[NataliaBijoux]

I personally think that women look better and sexier in their proper size .. whether that be a 00 - 12. It's more flattering to your body to wear the proper size..

Just my opinion.

 

[badbadboy]

Now I bet you look great in Lulu's NB

 

[NataliaBijoux]

Thanks
And I like them because they come in TALL, which is good because most yoga pants tend to be too short for me!
xo

Now I bet you look great in Lulu's NB

 

[peter putter]

Well, just saying but some people should not were certain types of clothing. Just as I would never wear Speedos to the beach,

I really don't want to be exposed to this at the PNE,

Jury is out on whether this person should...

 

[Tugela]

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LINK TO APOLOGY VIDEO

I don't get what the big deal is....what he said is accurate.

Just because certain types of clothing are available doesn't mean that it is appropriate for everyone to wear them. I would think that saying they don't work for certain body types is stating the obvious, but apparently you can't say that.

 

[sdw]

What Chip Wilson said was that the problem with Lululemon pants being "see-through" and wearing out quickly where the thighs rub together is because of people not wearing the proper size.

Asked by host Trish Regan about pilling complaints and yoga pants so sheer they’re see-through, Wilson all but said the clothes are not meant for overweight women.

Claiming that even Lululemon’s small size would fit an extra large, he said “the rubbing through the thighs, how much pressure there is ... over a period of time and how much they use it,” ticking off causes of sheerness and pilling.

A lot of clothing is "vanity sized" these days. I was in BootLegger buying a new pair of jeans and I "fit" into a 36" waist. Only in some men's dreams. My belt is 38", all of my other pants are 38" - - - I have a 38" waist. I don't need to be lied to about what size I actually am.

I didn't buy my new jeans at BootLegger. I bought my new pair at Mark's, they were labelled as having a 38" waist.

The reason that what Chip Wilson said "has legs" is because a whole lot of people don't want to accept their actual size and they want Lululemon to "Vanity Size" their clothing so that they can continue to pretend that they are still a teenager.

 

[amigo67]

"vanity size"

It makes sense. I wear a 29" in Lucky Brand jeans but there is no way in hell I can do up my 30" D&Gs... lol

 

[badbadboy]

"vanity size"

It makes sense. I wear a 29" in Lucky Brand jeans but there is no way in hell I can do up my 30" D&Gs... lol

Lucky Brand FTW :nod: !

 

[bcneil]

Its almost like there is an obesity lobby. Guess what happens when I walk into Harry Rosen looking for a suit......being 6'8" I get treated the same as if I were 500 pounds.
The salesmen want nothing at all to do with me. Dress shoes? Forget about it. Not a lot of companies apologizing to tall people.

 

[encarsia]

I am 6'3" and 270 sucks to find pants. I have now gone to internet shopping. Much easier find close across the line

 

[PuntMeister]

Applause.....

Love the way he supported his troops while leaving the heffer issue to simmer....

No hate here LIJ :clap2:

OK, so then if a size 12 woman wears a size 6 pair of jeans and the button pops off, you become a “fat-shamer” for telling her to wear the right size?

I'm glad he only apologized to the workers, it's BS to think that you can fit into anything simply because Oprah says you can.

All hate to be posted below, thank you.
________________________________

 

[Crumb]

as it can be said for many things, it can be said here..yoga pants, are a privilege not a right

 

[manni]

will have to agree with the Chipper here.
it's not a good look for large size girls and same to the chubby guys wearing skinny jeans. WTF?

 

[VanessaofBC]

I personally think that women look better and sexier in their proper size .. whether that be a 00 - 12. It's more flattering to your body to wear the proper size..

Just my opinion.

Good opinion, Natalia! Not only that but wearing your clothes with confidence.

 

[Unpossible]

He is right http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/60610/that-b-double-o-t-y/

It's the manufacturers fault for not inventing magic fabric... duh.

 

[EuroSZabina]

I love my lululemons, from my socks to panties, hairbends, scarfs, bags, you name it i got it.
I would pick it over anything,
I will support them till the day I die

Lol

 

[storm rider]

I love my lululemons, from my socks to panties, hairbends, scarfs, bags, you name it i got it.
I would pick it over anything,
I will support them till the day I die

Lol

And that is why the guy who built up Lululemon as a company from the ground up right through to the IPO where ho sold off most likely 48% of the company stock thanks you as you and others like you made him an instant billionaire...much like the facebook creator as well as twitter...both of those are really useless though as they dont produce any tangible physical goods used by people on a day to day basis and are driven by internet zombies who for the most part are fucking brain dead.

Yoga pants are just like the 1990's gem of spandex and much like spandex yoga pants should have a fucking weight limit.No way do I want to have to see a 300 pound woman walking down the street in a pair of ass hugging yoga pants.

Just my .02

SR