Parents used to have a perfect solution for their kids’ athletic wear needs with Lululemon’s children’s line. Now they’re searching everywhere trying to figure out what happened to those options. Families keep asking why quality kids athletic wear is so hard to find these days.
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Exploring does lululemon make kids clothes, We posted a question online asking if anyone wore Lululemon kids clothes when they were young. The responses brought back so many memories.
One mom shared how she bought Lululemon and Ivivva for her daughter who was a competitive figure skater. Those leggings had to survive hours of practice, jumps, and spins on the ice. Other brands would get holes near the ankles after just a few sessions. But the Lululemon ones stayed perfect.
She also talked about how kids care about having the same things their friends have. Brown leather jackets were big in sixth grade. Everyone wanted white Keds in seventh grade. Kids notice what others wear and want to fit in.
Now when I walk into Lululemon with my own kids, I feel a little disappointed. They see all the beautiful colors and ask why there’s nothing for them. I have to explain that Lululemon doesn’t make kids clothes anymore.
So what went wrong? Why did a brand that made such great children’s athletic wear just stop? And what are parents supposed to do now when their kids want to match their Lululemon-loving moms?
Ivivva: Lululemon’s Former Kids Brand
Lululemon used to have a kids line called Ivivva. It ran from 2009 to 2020 and was made just for girls between 6 and 14 years old.
Parents loved Ivivva because the clothes felt just like adult Lululemon but cost about half the price. Kids got the same buttery soft fabric and stretchy feel that made Lululemon famous.
The clothes came in fun, bright colors that kids actually wanted to wear. Hot pink, turquoise, and colorful patterns made regular athletic wear look plain. Girls could do yoga, dance, gymnastics, or just hang out at school in clothes that felt special.
Ivivva became really popular really fast. At one point, they had over 70 stores in Canada and the United States. Within a few years, their sales grew by more than 50%. However, the brand never expanded to places like the UAE – it stayed focused on North American markets.
The Little Details That Made Ivivva Special
What made Ivivva so different wasn’t just the soft fabric. It was all the thoughtful touches that showed they actually understood kids. Nobody else was making miniature adult clothes with pretty colors slapped on them.
Zipper pulls that doubled as hair ties
Every Ivivva piece had little squishy round balls hanging from the zippers. Parents thought they were just logo decoration, but each one was actually a backup hair elastic. Kids could pull it off whenever they needed to throw their hair up mid-practice. How many times have we all watched kids frantically search for a hair tie right before a game?
Sports bras that weren’t embarrassing
Shopping for a first sports bra used to mean awkward trips to department stores looking at beige contraptions. Ivivva completely changed this with colorful, age-appropriate options that felt like fun activewear instead of underwear. The staff knew how to help without making it weird, and the displays showed girls that sports bras were just another cool piece of athletic gear.
Triangle cutouts with a purpose
The little triangle on the back of Ivivva shirts wasn’t following any random fashion trend. It prevented annoying fabric bumps when hanging clothes on metal hooks in locker rooms. Kids constantly changing for dance, gymnastics, or hockey could keep their tops looking perfect instead of getting them stretched out.
One-stop shop for active kids
Everyone focused on the famous soft leggings, but Ivivva carried everything from leotards and tennis gear to swimsuits and rhythmic gymnastics tights. Parents could outfit their multi-sport kids without running all over town hunting for different specialty items.
Free activities that built friendships
Ivivva stores regularly hosted free running clubs, yoga classes, and other events specifically for kids. It wasn’t just about selling clothes. They created spaces where active girls could meet other kids who shared their interests. Several locations even offered birthday party packages, which was pretty much every active kid’s dream celebration.
All of this explained why parents were willing to pay premium prices and why kids felt so attached to the brand. Other companies made athletic wear for children, but Ivivva made athletic wear that understood children.
Why Lululemon Stopped Making Kids Clothes
2017 was a huge shock when Lululemon announced they were closing 40 out of 55 Ivivva stores. Most parents had no idea this was coming, especially since the brand seemed popular just a few years before.
Looking back now, there were clear signs something was wrong. Walk into any Ivivva store during 2016 and 2017 and it felt pretty empty compared to the busy Lululemon locations right next door. While moms were lined up trying on Align leggings, the kids section might have three families looking around on a busy Saturday.
Even their social media numbers started going down. Ivivva’s Instagram followers were dropping, and kids weren’t liking or commenting on posts like they used to. When your target audience stops caring enough to post about your clothes, that’s a bad sign.
Like every other store at the mall, they were struggling with online shopping. Parents found it much easier to let kids pick colors from a website while doing homework than making special trips to browse in person. Even families who loved the brand started ordering online instead of going to stores.
Running Ivivva was like managing two completely different companies. Kids need different inventory, different marketing, different everything. Lululemon needed people who actually understood what 10-year-olds wanted, which is totally different from selling expensive activewear to adults.
When Lululemon started their “Power of Three” strategy, it became clear where kids fit in their plans. They decided it was much easier to focus on selling $100 leggings to yoga moms than figure out what tweens actually wanted. From a business perspective, this probably made perfect sense.
After most physical stores closed, Ivivva continued online for a few more years. But even that wasn’t working well enough. By 2020, Lululemon decided to stop trying and put all their money into growing their adult business instead.
When they finally ended Ivivva completely, parents on social media were really upset. Years later, families are still disappointed about losing the one brand that actually understood active kids.
What Parents and Kids Want from Lululemon
I keep seeing the same questions everywhere on social media and parenting forums asking about Lululemon kids clothes. Parents are still looking for what Ivivva used to offer, and their requests keep coming up everywhere.
The biggest thing parents want is matching family outfits. Moms love their Lululemon leggings and want their daughters to have the same look for family workouts, school pickup, or just everyday wear. Many families want to coordinate their athletic wear when they’re out together.
Parents also want the same quality they get from adult Lululemon. They’ve seen how their own pieces stay soft and keep their shape after lots of washing and wearing. When you’re buying clothes for active kids, you want them to last through playground time and sports practice.
Kids often want what they see their parents wearing. When mom reaches for her favorite Lululemon leggings every day, children naturally become curious about those soft, colorful clothes. They want to know why mom loves certain pieces so much and ask if they can have similar ones.
Parents worry about missing out on giving their kids the brand experience they love themselves. They see other families with matching athletic wear and wonder why they can’t find the same options. The fear of their children feeling left out when friends have coordinated family outfits adds to this concern.
Now families are stuck hunting everywhere for alternatives that never quite match what Ivivva offered.
Where You Can Shop for Lululemon-Style Kids Clothes Now
Finding Ivivva on secondhand sites
The best way to get real Lululemon kids clothes is through resale websites. eBay, Poshmark, and Mercari have tons of old Ivivva pieces selling for $15-45. You can find leggings, tank tops, sports bras, and even jackets that are still in great condition.
Very few online boutiques focus only on selling Ivivva items. These shops buy up discontinued pieces and resell them to families who still want the brand.
There are actually Instagram accounts with thousands of followers that do nothing but post Ivivva finds for sale. That’s how desperate parents still are for these clothes.
Unfortunately, most of these secondhand options ship mainly within North America. Finding Ivivva pieces in the UAE or Middle East is much harder since the brand never sold there originally. You might find some items through international shipping, but expect higher costs and longer wait times.
Other brand alternatives that work
Nike Kids makes popular alternatives. Their Dri-FIT leggings for kids cost around $25-35 and come in bright colors. The Pro series offers better quality fabrics that feel closer to Lululemon’s softness.
Under Armour Youth has HeatGear leggings that many parents like. They’re good for active kids and cost about $20-30. Athleta Girl from Gap offers leggings in the $35-45 range with similar stretchy fabrics, though the brand has limited availability in some areas.
Many parents buy adult Lululemon in size 0 or XS for their older kids and teens. This works okay for basic black leggings, but the fits aren’t perfect and you miss out on the fun colors kids usually want.
Getting creative with your search
Check local thrift stores, consignment shops, and clothing swaps in your area. Sometimes Ivivva pieces show up in donation bins or declutter sales, especially in neighborhoods where families used to shop the brand.
Facebook Marketplace and local buy-sell groups sometimes have parents selling their kids’ outgrown Ivivva clothes. Garage sales near gyms or sports clubs often have unexpected treasures.
The problem with all these alternatives is that none of them offer exactly what Ivivva had. Some brands have the quality but not the cool factor. Others have cute designs but fabrics that don’t last. Ivivva somehow combined the technical features of adult Lululemon with designs that kids actually wanted to wear, and that combination is really hard to find today.
Will Lululemon Ever Make Kids Clothes Again?
It’s disappointing, but Lululemon doesn’t seem interested in bringing back kids clothes anytime soon. The company keeps growing their adult business and adding new things like shoes and skincare products. They probably have good business reasons for staying away from children’s clothing, but it still feels like a missed opportunity.
Families who loved Ivivva are stuck looking through secondhand sites or trying alternatives that just aren’t the same. Every few months, someone asks on social media if Lululemon has any plans to return to kids clothes. The answer is always no.
Closing Ivivva took away something special from the kids clothing market. It’s been years now, and parents still can’t find anything that combines the same quality, style, and appeal that Ivivva had. Other brands either focus on performance or looks, but rarely both.
It’s crazy how difficult it’s become to find really good athletic wear for kids. You can get cheap leggings that fall apart quickly, or you can find decent quality that costs almost as much as adult clothes. There’s not much in between that offers the perfect mix kids and parents actually want.
We’re all just waiting and checking eBay way too often, hoping that maybe someday Lululemon will change their mind about the kids market.
FAQs
1. Does Lululemon currently make clothes for kids?
No, Lululemon does not currently produce kids’ clothing. They previously had a dedicated kids’ brand called Ivivva, but it was discontinued in 2020 as the company shifted focus to its core adult product lines.
2. What was Ivivva and why was it popular?
Ivivva was Lululemon’s kids’ activewear brand designed for girls aged 6–14. It became popular for offering high-quality, stylish, and functional athletic wear tailored specifically for active kids, with thoughtful features and durable fabrics similar to adult Lululemon products.
3. Why did Lululemon discontinue its kids’ line?
Lululemon discontinued Ivivva due to declining in-store traffic, challenges in managing a separate kids’ brand, and a strategic decision to focus on their more profitable adult business under their “Power of Three” growth strategy.
4. Where can parents find alternatives to Lululemon kids’ clothing today?
Parents can find secondhand Ivivva pieces on platforms like eBay or Poshmark. For new options, brands such as Nike Kids, Under Armour Youth, and Athleta Girl offer similar activewear, although they may not fully match Ivivva’s unique combination of quality and design.
Lululemon may no longer make kids’ clothing, but the impact of its Ivivva line is still felt by parents and kids today. It wasn’t just about activewear it was about creating something that truly understood what active children needed in terms of comfort, durability, and style. While the brand chose to focus on its adult market for business reasons, it left behind a noticeable gap that other brands have yet to fully fill.
For now, parents are left exploring secondhand options or trying alternatives that come close but don’t quite replicate the Ivivva experience. Whether it’s the quality, thoughtful design, or the emotional connection kids had with the brand, Ivivva set a standard that still influences buying decisions today.
Until Lululemon decides to revisit the kids’ market if ever families will continue searching for that perfect balance of performance and style that once came so easily.
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