When it comes to luxury items, high-end accessories and clothes with steep prices, everyone loves a good “dupe.” From an affordable version of that fancy foundation you tried a sample of once to a cute top with almost the same fabric composition as that name-brand seller, finding reasonably priced items that resemble those distributed by your favorite companies is like striking gold—but a popular dupe just landed a major store in hot water. Lululemon, a retailer known for its athletic apparel, is suing Costco for selling knockoff versions of some of its pricier, hot ticket items. Here, everything we know.
Why Lululemon is suing Costco over alleged knockoffs
Last Friday, Lululemon filed their lawsuit against Costco, saying that the wholesale shopping institution has “unlawfully traded” on Lululemon’s “reputation, goodwill and sweat equity by selling unauthorized and unlicensed apparel employing knockoff, infringing versions” of the athletic brands popular products, most of which retail at prices upwards of $100. To remedy this, Lululemon is asking Costco to pay monetary damages, as well as stop selling these alleged dupes.
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“As an innovation-led company that invests significantly in the research, development and design of our products, we take the responsibility of protecting and enforcing our intellectual property rights very seriously and pursue the appropriate legal action when necessary,” said a Lululemon spokesperson to USA TODAY.
What products are at the center of the Lululemon lawsuit?
A handful of popular Lululemon items are included in this lineup of alleged duped items. The brand’s Scuba collection is referred to often in the lawsuit. For example, it states that their Scuba Hoodie was replicated in the form of Costco’s Danskin Half-Zip Hoodie. While Lululemon’s Scuba hoodies fall around the $100 price range, Costco’s version sells for about $8. Another Costco product called out in the lawsuit was their dupe of the Lululemon Define Jacket. While the athletic company’s version comes in again around $128, Costco’s version, the Spyder Women’s Yoga Jacket, costs around $22.
The list certainly does not end there, as men’s clothing is also called out in this lawsuit. Lululemon’s Men’s ABC Pant, which costs around $100, was compared to Costco’s Kirkland 5 Pocket Pant.
Costco isn’t the first to face a lawsuit over dupes
In the clothing and fashion industry, as well as the beauty industry, there have been several instances in which lawsuits were brought forth regarding “dupes.” For example, in the past, Adidas sued Forever 21 for selling products with stripe designs that resembled Adidas designs, with the duped products coming in at a much cheaper price.
According to Lululemon’s lawsuit, the brand feels as though these similar products will confuse customers. As stated in the lawsuit, Lululemon reached out to Costco back in November of 2024 regarding their “infringement of Lululemon’s intellectual property, including the SCUBA Mark,” as well as design patents. At the time, Costco responded by removing some of these products, though a few still remain, specifically, the Danskin Half-Zip and the Spyder Women’s Yoga Jacket. Lululemon demands a jury trial.
