Lululemon to expand in Mexico; founder Chip Wilson launches athletic-brand venture
One of the biggest players in athleisure apparel is expanding its omnichannel presence south of the border.
Lululemon plans to open eight stores in Mexico this year (out of 15 total planned North American openings). By the end of its fiscal year, the company expects to operate more than 30 stores in Mexico.
In addition to physical expansion, Lululemon is launching an e-commerce site in Mexico. The new site gives local customers access to the retailer's product assortment across running, yoga, pilates, gym workouts, tennis, golf and everyday athleisure.
“Across our North America business, we are continuing to strategically invest in the growth and evolution of our omnichannel guest experience through a combination of new and elevated stores and enhanced digital capabilities,” said Carla Anderson, senior VP and general manager, North America, Lululemon. “The launch of lululemon.mx, alongside our planned store expansion in Mexico, highlights an exciting next chapter in our North America growth journey.”
Chip Wilson
Lululemon's expansion in Mexico comes as it continues to search for a chief executive to replace Calvin McDonald, who stepped down at the end of January. His departure came as the company had been underperforming for more than a year, with the weakness most apparent — and continuing — in its home market. The CEO search is complicated by the fact that founder Chip Wilson, who is one of the company's biggest shareholder and most outspoken critics, is waging a proxy battle to remake the board, which will select the next CEO.
In more recent developments, Bloomberg reported that Wilson is starting an athletic-brand venture that will include new brands and existing small ones. He has hired an operating partner to be part of the new business, which is based in Vancouver, the report said.
“Chip Wilson has been an investor in technical apparel for years,” a spokesman for Wilson said in an e-mailed response to Bloomberg News. “Chip has recently created a new structure to bring additional focus to its investments in early-stage, founder-led companies. Chip remains passionate about supporting founders and leading innovation in the technical apparel space.”
Lululemon recently hosted two brand activations in Mexico that the brand said showcased the company’s ability to create “exceptional retail destinations and building deep community connections.” On March 29, the company hosted the Lululemon 10K CDMX 2026 race that drew nearly 8,000 participants into the heart of Mexico City.
Earlier this year, Lululemon brought together more than 100 Mexico-based Ambassadors, including partnerships with local athletes and instructors, for a multi-day summit aimed at strengthening brand affinity and supporting continued growth in the country.
“The momentum we are driving in Mexico reflects the strength and relevance of our brand within the community and signals the continued opportunity ahead as we build connected, engaging and consistent experiences for our guests,” added Anderson.
Lululemon operates more than 800 stores worldwide. It has a brand presence in more than 30 markets.
