topic Re: Lululemon sues Costco in Community Chat

Lululemon sues Costco

MorningLover — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 10:15:15 GMT

Lululemon is suing Costco for selling “dupes” of its most popular clothing items, requesting a jury trial to seek compensation in monetary damages and demanding that Costco to cease selling the duplicated products.

Lululemon, a premium athleisure company based in Vancouver, Canada, filed its lawsuit against Costco on June 27 in California.

The complaint alleges that Costco “unlawfully traded” on Lululemon’s “reputation, goodwill and sweat equity” by selling unauthorized knockoffs, infringing on the companies patents.

Lululemon claims the dupes are “confusingly similar” to its own line of products, potentially misleading customers into believing that the Costco alternatives are “authentic Lululemon apparel.”

The items at the core of the lawsuit are the popular “Scuba” hoodies and sweatshirts, “Define” jackets and “ABC” stretch pants.

Lululemon’s well-known “Scuba” hoodie retails for $118, while both the “Define” jacket and ABC pants sell for $128, per the company’s website.

In contrast, the Costco alternatives “Scuba” hoodie dupe retails for $8, the “Define” jacket dupe for $22 and the “ABC” stretch pant dupe for only $10, according to NBC News.

Re: Lululemon sues Costco

Shanus — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 11:52:35 GMT

@MorningLover I wonder how that will settle out. I don't have COSTCO near me, but many stores have knockoffs of expensive brands. if you look in the label, you can tell it's not the real deal and I bet COSTCO will take that stand.

Wallmart and Target have items that look like dupes as well, but I don't think law suits yet.

Re: Lululemon sues Costco

JeanLouiseFinch — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 14:16:51 GMT

It's a stretch, IMO. All clothing companies make their own versions of similar items. It would be one thing if a design insignia, patch, emblem were copied but not for the actual fabric and type of garment. I think/hope Costco will be victorious in their defense. Costco/Kirkland always has signage and their garments are clearly labeled. If people buy a supposed copycat item, a brand cannot prove that they bought the Costco item assuming it had anything to do with the name brand. Many people see something they want to buy without regard for a more expensive brand's version, reputation, or sweat equity. If Lululemom wins, all other clothing brands will get in line because Costco sells all kinds of clothing.

Re: Lululemon sues Costco

tansy — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 12:46:55 GMT

Brand clothing dupes are all over Amazon. Many fashion YouTubers show possible dupes from Walmart also.

Re: Lululemon sues Costco

MorningLover — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 12:53:28 GMT

Yahoo Finance -

Lululemon's lawsuit against Costco highlights the rise of fashion 'dupes'

excerpt..

Alexandra Roberts, a professor of law and media at Northeastern University, noted that Lululemon had some plausible claims.

Lululemon alleges that Costco is known to use manufacturers of popular branded products for its private label Kirkland brand, although the companies involved don't clearly reveal that information to customers.

Due to this, Lululemon claims some shoppers may believe that Kirkland-branded products are made by the authentic supplier of the “original” products.

Roberts said this could rule in Lululemon's favor as something that “weighs toward consumer confusion.”

Still, she noted that most of the products Lululemon mentioned in its complaint were not sold under the Kirkland brand, which could undermine the argument.

Re: Lululemon sues Costco

gardenman — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 13:51:48 GMT

It's the best advertising Costco could get. Lulelemon is basically saying, "They're selling stuff just like ours at a fraction of the price!" If you're Costco, that's perfect. "Yes. That's right! We're selling stuff largely indistinguishable from theirs at a fraction of the price. Shame on us! Better hurry in and get it while it lasts!"

Clothing dupes are very common. Few clothing manufacturers make their own fabric, so the fabric makers sell the same fabric to other makers who make similar products. Pants are pants. Skirts are skirts. There's not a lot new under the sun. As long as you don't directly copy an insignia or trademarked markings, a dupe is just a similar product. "Our pants are unlike any other pants on the market!" How? three legs? Pants are pants. Blouses are blouses. Skirts are skirts.

Re: Lululemon sues Costco

Rockycoast — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 14:14:25 GMT

I doubt Costco is worried. Many stores sell "dupes" of brand name, designer clothing. Once designer clothing hits the runway the knockoffs start being designed and made the next day.

Lululemong must be desperate for the attention,

Re: Lululemon sues Costco

ThinkingOutLoud — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 14:24:52 GMT

The problem isn't Costco. Lululemon shouldn't have relied on China. An excerpt from an article I read about this a couple days ago:

"Lululemon is a Canadian company who gave China all their manufacturing business. China then makes extra product and ships it to ASEAN countries where it can be generic branded and sold at a discount."

Re: Lululemon sues Costco

Still Raining — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 16:07:16 GMT

Costco sells a whole lot of "copies", but unless Lululemon has trademarks they are going to be out of luck. Never has the word hoodie been trademarked!

I have found that Lands End and Samsonite both sell unique, branded, lower quality goods there. Learned that the hard way.

Re: Lululemon sues Costco

jackthebear — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 23:37:04 GMT

is someone really confused by the costco products and think it might be LLL

Re: Lululemon sues Costco

shoekitty — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 00:54:54 GMT

personally I would go without than wear a dupe. In my mind it's as good as stealing off someone's hard work. It shows a lack of invention and creativity on dupers side. Idk why people want to wear knock off clothes anyway. , people know they are dupes. To me the buyer is trying to pass an image. Or they just frugal, that's could be true.

i have been the victim of someone knocking off an item I made, down to the tee. They just didn't do it,well, and I was embarrassed when I saw it. They used the pattern, but quality of all the materials was less. I had several calls one day, telling me "this lady who was at one of your shows copied your (my item)!" I went to this show to,see it, she saw me ....and was so ashamed. I said nothing, smiled and walked on to next item. What can you do? I would hate someone to see those items I was identified with, and think I was slipping. lol. Pride I guess.

moral of story, try not to buy dupes and knock offs, it hurts someone. It does

Re: Lululemon sues Costco

MarnieRez3 — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 01:04:51 GMT

@jackthebear
Right?? 😆👏🩵
There was a NYT comparison of the actual Lululemon ABC pants, which my husband loves, and the Costco "dupe" and the Lululemon pant lasted longer, washed better and was more stain-resistant than the dupe.
The Define jackets last forever and are the softest and most delicious fabric; the dupe I saw in Costco looked like it was fast fashion worth about $1.99.
There's a reason Lulu garments are expensive; they are well-made and don't get thrown out after one season. If you know, you know.

Re: Lululemon sues Costco

shoekitty — Sat, 05 Jul 2025 01:09:32 GMT

@jackthebear wrote:
is someone really confused by the costco products and think it might be LLL

@jackthebear most people can't tell the difference with only the dupe in their hand, and nothing to compare it to. My beef is with manufacturers who knowingly take a premium item, give it to duper and say, make this. They are copying. I think it is okay to take a basic idea, I mean all clothing styles come from somewhere, right? They get a basic idea, and go off on their own with their own little Tweeks. I do know people who you would think would know better buy fake handbags, and think they were real. People take their LV, and Chanel handbags in to have them authenticated all the time. Just sayin.