From Yoga Studio to Yoga Pants to an Athleisure Empire: A History of Lululemon

1998 Lululemon's founder, Chip Wilson, launches the company in Vancouver, British Columbia, selling yoga-inspired, technical athletic apparel.

LULULEMON: The name has no roots and means nothing other than it has 3 "L's" in it, making the name innately "North American and authentic."

2000The company, which started as a design studio by day and yoga studio by night, becomes a standalone store.

2005Lululemon trademarks its original fabric, Luon, which includes a higher-than-average amount of nylon microfiber.

2007Lululemon goes public, raising $328 million in its IPO.

That same year, Lululemon falsely claims its clothes are made with seaweed.

2011The company prints the phrase "Who is John Galt?" on its shopping bags, referencing Ann Rand's novel "Atlas Shrugged."

2015Founder Chip Wilson resigns as chairman after being accused of encouraging "fat-shaming" brand strategies.

2017Lululemon partners with APL to offer athletic shoes in-store.

JULY 2019Lululemon will open a flagship "experiential" store in Chicago - offering food, drinks, fitness classes and a meditation room, in addition to apparel sales.