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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Lululemon’s Controversial Founder Steps Down

    The clothing maker Lululemon is known for hundred-dollar yoga pants, its cult-like following... and the frequent gaffes of company founder Chip Wilson. Or at least, it was. Wilson resigned today from the company's board of directors.

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    By Madeleine Brand • Feb 2, 2015 • 1 min read

    The clothing maker Lululemon is known for hundred-dollar yoga pants, its cult-like following... and the frequent gaffes of company founder Chip Wilson. Or at least, it was. Wilson resigned today from the company's board of directors. He built an international empire on stretchy, fitted athletic wear, opening more than 250 stores around the world since 1998. But two years ago, Wilson also turned a recall of overly see-through yoga pants into a public relations nightmare with comments about women’s bodies. And that wasn’t his only problem. We hear more about Wilson’s rise and fall, and what’s next for him and Lululemon.

    The full episode

    5 of 5
    Obama’s Budget, Super Bowl Recap, and Lululemon’s Leadership Crisis
    1. 0:00Income Inequality and Messaging
    2. 9:11Rethinking the Housing Bubble
    3. 16:28Missy Elliot’s Super Bowl Win, and Other TV News
    4. 26:26Alexandra Fuller and “Leaving Before the Rains Come”
    5. 43:07Lululemon’s Controversial Founder Steps DownYou’re reading this
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Andrew Walsh

      Too Beautiful to Live

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Matt Holzman

      Producer, 'The Document'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Amy Wallace

      Los Angeles Magazine

      News

    The full episode

    5 of 5
    Obama’s Budget, Super Bowl Recap, and Lululemon’s Leadership Crisis
    1. 0:00Income Inequality and Messaging
    2. 9:11Rethinking the Housing Bubble
    3. 16:28Missy Elliot’s Super Bowl Win, and Other TV News
    4. 26:26Alexandra Fuller and “Leaving Before the Rains Come”
    5. 43:07Lululemon’s Controversial Founder Steps DownYou’re reading this
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand