Lululemon (Photo: VCG)
In response to allegations made in the US that Lululemon may have used “forever chemicals,” a public relations representative from the company in China told the Global Times on Wednesday that all products currently on sale in China do not contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The quality of Lululemon clothing continued to draw questions from many Chinese netizens on Wednesday, with some calling for “solid evidence.”
US Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton posted on X on Monday local time that he had launched an investigation into Lululemon over the potential presence of toxic "forever chemicals" in activewear. The investigation will examine whether Lululemon's athletic apparel contains PFAS.
According to Reuters, PFAS are a group of widely used materials called "forever chemicals" because they do not break down easily in nature. Paxton said emerging research and consumer concerns have raised questions about whether certain synthetic materials in the apparel could be linked to endocrine disruption, infertility, cancer and other health risks, said the report.
"Lululemon does not use PFAS in its products," a company spokesperson said, adding it phased out the substance in fiscal 2023, after limited use in durable water repellent products, per Reuters.
The allegations also drew widespread attention in China online, and “Lululemon being investigated” was listed in Sina Weibo's top search topic on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the topic “Lululemon may be linked to risks such as infertility” was again listed in Sina Weibo’s top search.
In response, a public relations representative of Lululemon in China told the Global Times on Wednesday that all products currently on sale in China do not contain PFAS and fully comply with relevant laws, regulations, and national and industry standards.
While some Chinese netizens said they felt relieved that they had not purchased products from this brand due to the expensive prices, and other Chinese netizens raised questions of the safety of the products.
A netizen posted on Sina Weibo that the company’s customer service said the products currently on sale “comply with China’s safety technical specification requirements,” but did not directly respond to whether the company sold products containing PFAS before 2023. Another netizen asked whether there is a test report.
A user from Xiaohongshu asked: “What??? Which products exactly??? Does that mean I need to discard all the durable water-repellent products I purchased before 2023??!!”
“The brand needs to provide solid evidence, give a clear response, and offer consumers a reassuring explanation,” a netizen posted on Sina Weibo, adding that while the incident should be viewed rationally, the result of an investigation should be released at an early date.
At the same time, some netizens also called for waiting for official statements and viewing the incident rationally.
Revenue of Lululemon in the Chinese market rose 29 percent in 2025, according to its financial report. As of the end of 2025, Lululemon had more than 170 directly-operated stores in the Chinese mainland. In 2026, the company plans to open 40 to 45 new directly-operated stores globally, of which 25 to 30 will be in international markets, with the majority located in China, Xinhua reported.