Women's History Month is a fitting time for Lululemon to release its very first women's running shoe called Blissfeel. "We are entering the footwear category the same way we built our apparel business - with products designed to solve unmet needs, made for women first," says Lululemon CEO Calvin McDonald.
With its footwear designs, Lululemon addresses the fact that, more often than not, performance shoes are designed for men and then adapted for women—Blissfeel stands out as a women-first footwear style.
The March 22nd release of Blissfeel will be followed by other innovative styles like Chargefeel, Strongfeel and Restfeel by Lululemon. Additionally, Lululemon plans to introduce a men’s footwear collection in 2023, along with special editions and seasonal collections.
Women-First Performance Footwear
Blissfeel by Lululemon is a Running Shoe for Women
Trend Themes
1. Women-first Athletic Products - Designing fitness products tailored specifically to women's needs and preferences addresses an underserved market, creating new opportunities for market growth.
2. Gender-specific Athletic Shoes - Developing gender-specific athletic shoes caters to the unique anatomical differences and needs of each gender, improving performance and comfort.
3. Expanding Athletic Brands - Establishing additional product lines, such as footwear, helps athletic brands diversify their offerings and capture more market share.
Industry Implications
1. Athletic Apparel - Investing in disruptive innovation enables athletic apparel companies to stay ahead of the competition and attract new loyal customers.
2. Performance Footwear - Innovative designs focused on gender-specific ergonomics and performance can revolutionize the footwear industry and drive growth.
3. Sports & Fitness Retail - Introducing women-first products in sports and fitness retail stores can increase brand visibility, customer attraction, and profits.