Ben Stubbington, SVP of design and concepts at Lululemon, tells Men’s Health that innovations in fabric will make it feel more comfortable and motivate wearers to exercise more.
We believe when you feel your best, you perform your best. Through scientific studies and testing we realized how a knee, or calf, or biceps might need different levels of pressure to perform at your best and to feel the best. With SenseKnit, we engineer multiple sensations within one garment for the anatomy, providing varying levels of support and breathability, seamlessly and strategically knit into the fabric. We are making garments that work in collaboration with the body versus just sitting on top of the body.
When it comes to tighter product, we’re seeing a rise in that aesthetic across all genders. The psychology has shifted, from only the most elite athletes wearing form-fitting gear, now we’re seeing men wear tights every day. I would include myself in that too, as I’d rather wear a form fitting half tight on a long trail run, because of how it feels on the body and how it works with me on the run is so much more beneficial. That barrier has shifted, and men are finding a new confidence, not willing to sacrifice the performance for modesty. The rigor of what we’ve learned through designing product for training is brought into our everyday lifestyle pieces.
With our Lululemon x Robert Geller collaboration, we pushed that boundary even further. We asked what would be essential to have in your bag over a 96-hour period, that could allow you to move seamlessly from early morning workouts, to urban life and even international travel, in comfort and style. We’re really thinking about how we can ask every garment to do more than one thing.
What I’m most excited about for the future is how we work on state of mind. If we empower guests to feel more themselves, more comfortable, more prepared, we are enabling their holistic senses, their physical and mental connection. There is so much science being done to the benefits on mental health through exercise, the chemicals that are released, the self-positivity and goal setting. This is key, playing into physical health to enable mental health.
A version of this story originally appears in the March 2021 issue of Men’s Health, with the title “ALL ABOUT THE FEELS”.
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