The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
VANCOUVER, Canada — Lululemon Athletica Inc. is recalling the drawstrings used in about 318,000 women's hoodies and other tops after seven consumers reported injuries to their eyes and faces.
Elastic cords used in hoods or the neck area can snap back if they’re pulled or catch on something, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The recall affects about 133,000 products in the U.S. and 185,000 in Canada.
Customers can remove the cord, and the yogawear company will provide a nonelastic string to replace it.
“Our main priority is ensuring our product works for our guests, and we believe this is the necessary proactive action,” Vancouver-based Lululemon said in a statement. “We are committed to making our product right for our guests and regret any inconvenience this may have caused them.”
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The company previously suffered a product gaffe with its black Luon yoga pants, which would become see-through when customers bent over. Lululemon Chief Product Officer Sheree Waterson stepped down after the March 2013 recall, and Chief Executive Officer Christine Day announced plans to retire a few months later. Since then, CEO Laurent Potdevin has worked to correct supply-chain problems and regain customers' trust in the quality of its high-end exercise gear.
In the wake of the see-through pants, Lululemon added additional product tests that slowed deliveries to stores and weighed on sales growth. Lululemon also put the new pants through 15 tests of specific components, including colorfastness and burst strength.
The tops with the cord problem were sold between January 2008 and December of last year, and featured names such as the “Don’t Hurry Be Happy Pullover” and “Victory Jacket.” Priced ranged from $75 to $260. They were made in Bangladesh, China, Indonesia and Peru.
By Lindsey Rupp; editors: Nick Turner, John Lear.
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