Lululemon Pants Return After ‘Sheergate’

Lululemon Athletica is bringing back its black luon yoga pants, which had previously been pulled from shelves after customers complained that the fabric was too sheer.

The company said that nearly one in five pairs of the luon pants were affected, and explained that “ingredients, weight and longevity qualities of the pants remain the same but the coverage does not.” The company also passed the blame to the manufacturer, Eclat Textile Company, which denied any wrongdoing.

Lululemon said that the pants, which will return to stores this month, now have “more fabric across the bum so it’s not stretched from the get-go.” While the “recipe” for the fabric hasn’t changed, the pants will now have to undergo 15 different tests before they are delivered. The pattern has also been “re-engineered” to minimize stretching, the company said.

Lululemon “even got some university scientists” to help them develop a “‘sheer-o-meter’ which measures the amount of light coming through the fabric while being stretched at varying degrees.” The company emphasized that “if you stretch a knit fabric far enough, it will go sheer. That’s why the right fit is key.”

Shortly after the pants were pulled from the shelves in March, Lululemon shares dropped 5.2 percent ($3.45) to $62.45 per share. The luon pants accounted for 17 percent of the company’s sales.

Less than two weeks after the pants were pulled, Chief Product Officer Sheree Waterson left her position. Her departure was part of a “reorganization of our product organization,” the company said, and CEO Christine Day said Lululemon appreciates the “many contributions that Sheree made during her time with Lululemon, particularly in the area of design.”

Since the recall, Lululemon stock has rebounded by nearly 28 percent, but shares didn’t show much change Monday afternoon.

Will you be buying a pair of luon pants now that they’re returning?