📝 usncan Note: Alo Vs. Lululemon 2025 – Forbes Vetted
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When it comes to timeless athletic apparel, two brands that often come to mind: Alo and Lululemon. Both have dedicated followings thanks in part to popular styles like the Alo Accolade Crewneck Pullover and the Lululemon Align Leggings, though the similarities go even deeper. With a penchant for athleisure wear, comparable prices and roots in yoga, it’s fair to assume performance and looks are similar, too. But looking closer at these brands reveals notable differences that play a vital part in deciding which one is right for you.
We compared Alo and Lululemon to help find the brand best for you.
Illustration: Forbes / Photos: Retailers
If you don’t have prior experience with either brand, or have tried one and are curious about the other, determining the one most appropriate for your lifestylecan prove difficult. In this Alo vs. Lululemon guide, we compare the brands’ backgrounds, aesthetics, fabrics and more to help you find comfortable, capable apparel that meets your needs.
Alo Vs. Lululemon: A Brief Overview
Founded in 1998 in Vancouver, Canada, Lululemon began as a design studio by day and a yoga studio by night, until the brand opened its first store two years later. Borne out of founder Chip Wilson’s desire to create yoga apparel for women that was as flattering as it was functional, it started with a pair of nylon and Lycra yoga pants. Lululemon’s increasing popularity in the early- to mid-2010s helped usher in the athleisure movement, normalizing athletic apparel in non-athletic settings. Today, the brand’s offerings have expanded to include men’s apparel, running shoes and travel bags.
Alo, meanwhile, is the younger of the two brands. Founded in 2007 in California, co-founders and childhood friends Danny Harris and Marco DeGeorge set out to design apparel that elevates and promotes the healing and transformative powers of yoga. The brand capitalized on the rise of athleisure wear, coining the phrase “studio-to-street” to encourage customers to wear apparel (and practice mindfulness) beyond the confines of the studio. In recent years, Alo has launched a skincare line and opened its own yoga studios.
Alo Vs. Lululemon: Brand Persona And Target Demographic
Both Alo and Lululemon aim for and attract a similar demographic: active, style-conscious women and men who don’t mind spending more on quality athletic apparel. While both brands offer activewear for a variety of activities, Lululemon attracts those who more frequently participate in high-impact workouts, whereas the Alo customer dons their apparel primarily for less intense workouts like yoga and pilates, or simply to run errands.
Alo is known for its celebrity clientele, with recent campaigns featuring model Kendall Jenner and Jin of the K-pop group BTS. The brand also has an invite-only gym (known as the Alo Wellness Club) in Beverly Hills, California, whose members consist largely of celebrities, influencers and models.
Lululemon, on the other hand, typically features athletes in its marketing and branding. Among its list of ambassadors are professional tennis player Frances Tiafoe, Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton and Olympic Medalist Suni Lee.
Alo Vs. Lululemon: Fabrics
From its inception, Lululemon has prioritized performance fabrics, and the brand currently offers several proprietary fabrics to suit different activities. The ever-popular Align leggings (our pick for the best leggings for women) are made of Nulu fabric, a blend of nylon and Lycra that’s buttery soft, breathable, and recommended for lower-impact and more casual workouts like yoga. Forbes Vetted managing editor Emmy Favilla has worn the same pair of Align leggings for five years and says they’re as soft and supportive as when she first got them—they’ve yet to develop any holes or tears.
As Lululemon’s fastest drying fabric, Everlux material is designed for training and intense workouts, with a cool interior and a brushed exterior that wicks moisture. Senior sleep editor Bridget Chapman wears the Wunder Train High Rise Tight, made with Everlux, and notes they stay in place and don’t require constant adjustment while working out. Much of the brand’s workout clothes are made from Everlux or Ultralu, a supportive fabric that creates a held-in feeling while four-way stretch allows for ample movement.
Alo has three signature fabrics of its own: Airlift, a high-compression sculpting fabric; Airbrush, a soft, smoothing fabric; and Alosoft, the brand’s softest fabric. Alo recommends Airlift for high-intensity workouts, Airbrush for medium-intensity training and Alosoft for yoga, pilates or lounging. The Airlift fabric has a slight sheen to it that’s especially noticeable in the brand’s leggings and has helped distinguish them from competitor offerings. Senior partnerships manager Jessica Weisman wears the Alosoft High-Waist 7/8 Highlight Legging and says the fabric is soft, comfortable and provides a bit of support and compression.
Alo Vs. Lululemon: Aesthetics
Despite similar backgrounds, Alo leans more into the athleisure aesthetic, while Lululemon is focused primarily on performance.
Browse Alo’s site and you’ll find plenty of athletic apparel, though many styles aren’t necessarily practical for workouts. Instead, they give the illusion of having just left the gym (without having actually gone). Alo often incorporates design elements that lend apparel a more fashionable and edgier vibe, like tank tops with garters and corseted jackets—elements that might not be conducive to strenuous exercise but certainly make a statement.
Lululemon’s designs are much more pared down by comparison, and they tend to stick to simple, streamlined silhouettes. The brand occasionally releases more fashion-forward and non-athletic designs, including wide-leg trousers and graphic baby tees, but the focus remains on performance-based apparel, which is attractive yet practical.
While Lululemon’s designs might be the simpler option between the two brands, styles often experiment with color, appealing to both minimalists and maximalists alike with a selection of neutral, bold and patterned fabrics. Alo rarely deviates from its subdued color palette of black, creams and beige, although you can find the occasional ballerina pink, butter yellow or olive green.
Alo Vs. Lululemon: Bestsellers
Lululemon got its start with leggings, and it’s what the brand continues to be known for. The Aligns are arguably its most popular style, and a new seamless version was recently created after requests came in from customers. Beyond leggings, the brand has found massive success with its Define Jacket and Everywhere Belt Bag, both of which have gone viral and inspired countless dupes.
Alo’s leggings are also among its bestsellers, including the 7/8 High-Waist Airlift Legging, though lounge-appropriate styles are extremely popular too, including the Accolade Straight Leg Sweatpant (and the matching sweatshirt). Its sports bras are also customer favorites, including the Airbrush Streamlined Bra Tank, which uses piping to create an ultra-flattering silhouette.
Alo Vs. Lululemon: Price
Both Alo and Lululemon are considered expensive for athleisure and athletic apparel, especially compared to competitors. Because pricing is similar across both brands, it’s not going to be a decisive factor when choosing between the two. Popular styles from Alo range anywhere from $48 to around $150, and the same goes for Lululemon’s bestsellers.
Leggings from both brands start at $98 and the most expensive pairs are $168. Lululemon’s Align leggings are typically $98 (some patterns are $118), and the newer seamless version is $108—$20 cheaper than Alo’s 7/8 Airlift Leggings. With little discrepancy in price, look to other factors like aesthetic, fit and fabrics to help inform your decision.
Alo Vs. Lululemon: Which Is Right For You?
While there is no “better” brand when it comes to Alo vs. Lululemon, picking the right one for you is a matter of which brand best fits your needs and preferences.
If aesthetics take precedent and you want to make a stylish impression at the studio, Alo is your best bet, offering trendy, athletic-adjacent clothing that can handle a slow-paced workout.
Prioritizing performance, Lululemon caters to both low- and high-impact workouts, and its fabrics offer the support needed for more vigorous movements. Ultimately, both brands offer attractive activewear that wears well beyond the gym, and choosing the “right” option largely comes down to how and where you envision wearing your clothes.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The gear team at Forbes Vetted has extensive experiencing researching and testing fitness gear and apparel, from walking shoes to leggings to golf shorts.
- This article was written by Lee Cutlip, an editorial assistant at Forbes Vetted who helps support the gear, tech, sleep and parenting categories. She has covered several topics for the gear vertical, including the best leggings on Amazon and emergency food supplies.
- This article was reviewed by Forbes Vetted gear editor Cam Vigliotta, a fitness enthusiast with a degree in kinesiology. He has over six years of experience testing fitness apparel and equipment.
- We tapped members of the Forbes Vetted team to learn more about their experiences with Alo and Lulu, and to learn what styles they particularly loved.
