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Lululemon fans will soon be able to take back their gently worn yoga pants and sports bras in exchange for gift cards with the launch of the athletic brand's resale program.
The Canada-based retailer, which is known for its pricey $98 leggings, announced on Tuesday that it is testing the Lululemon Like New pilot program in certain stores in California and Texas.
Starting in May, customers will be able to trade in 'like new' products - either in a store or by mail - for gift cards that will range from $5 to $25, depending on the item.
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According to the brand's press release, the trade-ins will be 'cleaned using state-of-the-art technology' and then be made available for other customers to buy back at discount in June as part of its sustainability efforts.
Lululemon CEO Calvin McDonald said in a statement the company aims to make 100 percent of its products with sustainable materials and end-of-use solutions by 2030.
Any items that don't meet the brand's resale standards will be recycled.
The retailer has partnered with Trove for the rollout of the initiative. The resale operations startup has already helped brands such as Patagonia and Levi's break into recommerce.
The lucrative resale market brings in nearly $30 billion in sales annually in the U.S. and is expected to grow as environmentally-conscience Gen Zers are spending more on resale than any generation before, according to a report from Jefferies.
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Lululemon pieces are already hot-ticket items on recommerce sites such as Poshmark, Tradesy, and Thredup, where shoppers can find everything from secondhand sports bras to leggings.
Gap, Macy's, and Nordstrom are among the retailers that have partnered with ThredUp to sell secondhand merchandise.
Lululemon's Like New initiative is following in the footsteps of Nike, which launched a refurbished program earlier this month to give a 'second life' to returned sneakers.
Online marketplaces that specialize in the buying and selling of used clothing have been thriving during the coronavirus pandemic - a time when people were left with little to do but clean out their closets.
While many have been worried about tracking COVID-19 into their homes over the past year, research suggests that the virus doesn't survive long on fabrics.
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However, some Fox Business readers were appalled by the idea of purchasing used workout clothes, even if they were gently worn and rigorously cleaned.
'Really? I'll want to purchase insulating sportswear after someone has worked out in it. I'm sure the gift card will be less toxic,' one person commented.
'Yeah, used tights great idea. I have some slightly used Hanes boxers for sale size medium. With a bit of work the stains can be scrubbed out I'm sure,' someone else wrote.
'This has nothing to do with sustainability. It is purely driven to create new sales through gift cards,' another added.
'That's what someone wants is to wear somebody elses yoga pants who probably used them 50 times doing squat thrusts with no underwear on. Nice try though.'
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