Aritzia vs. Lululemon: Which brand should you buy? [2026]

Aritzia is a fashion retailer focused on delivering trendy, versatile pieces for everyday wear and work at an accessible price point, while Lululemon is a premium athletic brand known for its high-performance activewear made from innovative technical fabrics. The primary difference lies in their core purpose: Aritzia outfits your day-to-day life with style, whereas Lululemon equips your active life with performance gear.

Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right brand for your wardrobe needs.

Aritzia: The Everyday Fashion Retailer

Aritzia has successfully positioned itself as a go-to destination for high-quality, on-trend apparel for young women. It operates primarily through its popular in-house brands like Wilfred, Babaton, and TNA, each offering a distinct aesthetic that contributes to a modern, minimalist, and effortlessly chic collection. Aritzia’s target customer is a style-conscious individual looking for wearable pieces that feel of the moment but can also be mixed and matched within a wardrobe for years to come.

• Product mix: Offers a wide array of clothing from its portfolio of in-house brands, including workwear like the popular Babaton Effortless Pants, cozy sweaters from Wilfred, and casual essentials from TNA. Their focus is on stylish blouses, dresses, outerwear, and trousers suitable for various lifestyle needs.
• Price point: Generally sits in the mid-range. T-shirts and basic tops range from $30-$50, while signature items like blazers and pants are typically $100-$150. Outerwear can climb above $150, making it an investment but still more accessible than luxury brands.
• Quality: The quality is generally consistent and strong for its price point. Fabrics include cotton, polyester blends, and some wools, focusing on comfortable and durable materials for daily wear. While well-constructed, it isn't designed for intense athletic activity.
• Sizing/Fit: Sizing typically ranges from XXS to XL or 00 to 12. Most items run true to size, with a focus on producing modern, flattering silhouettes that look polished without being restrictive. Online size guides are detailed and helpful.
• Sales: Holds several major sales events throughout the year, like the Aritzia Archive Sale, offering significant discounts that make it a great time to stock up on essentials. Promotions are otherwise infrequent.
• Return policy: Aritzia typically offers a 30-day return policy for a full refund on unworn merchandise, with sale items often eligible for store credit only.

Aritzia excels in offering trendy yet timeless fashion at an accessible price, making it ideal for building a versatile wardrobe for work, weekends, and everything in between.

Shop Aritzia: aritzia.com

Lululemon: The Premium Performance Wear Leader

Lululemon has built a global reputation on highly technical, beautifully designed athletic apparel that performs just as well in a yoga class as it does running errands. The brand is famous for its proprietary fabrics that offer unparalleled comfort, support, and durability, turning staples like leggings and sports bras into investment pieces. Lululemon’s target customer values quality, innovation, and a seamless blend of fitness and lifestyle.

• Product mix: Core offerings include leggings, shorts, tops, sports bras, and outerwear designed for yoga, running, and training. The brand has also expanded lines like "On The Move" to include more versatile athleisure pieces appropriate for everyday activities.
• Price point: Positioned in the premium category. Their famous leggings are priced between $98 and $128, tops range from $50 to $120, and technical jackets often exceed $200.
• Quality & Technology: This is where Lululemon stands out. It engineers proprietary fabrics like buttery-soft Nulu™ (for Align pants), sleek Luxtreme™ (for running), and sweat-wicking Everlux™ (for intense training) that maintain their shape and function wash after wash.
• Sizing/Fit: Offers womenswear in sizes 0-14, with some items extending up to size 20. The fit is famously body-hugging to provide support during movement. While sizing is consistent, the fit is snug and performance-oriented, so some prefer to size up for casual wear.
• Sales: Sales are rare outside of its "We Made Too Much" section, which offers a limited selection of discounted items. This strategy maintains the brand's premium value.
• Return policy: Lululemon offers a 30-day return window for unworn and unwashed merchandise with tags attached. Items from the "We Made Too Much" section are final sale.

Lululemon leads with its technical fabrics, thoughtful design, and exceptional durability, justifying its premium price for anyone serious about high-performance activewear.

Shop Lululemon: shop.lululemon.com

Aritzia vs. Lululemon Comparison

Price Comparison

Aritzia is significantly more budget-friendly. You can easily build a full outfit - pants, a top, and a light jacket - for around $250. T-shirts start around $30, and their sought-after pants often cost about $148. Aritzia’s frequent sales provide additional opportunities to shop at a lower price point, making it more accessible overall.

Lululemon operates at a premium price. A single pair of their core leggings, like the Align™ High-Rise Pant, starts at $98. Putting together a full activewear outfit will typically cost over $200. The brand rarely offers site-wide sales, meaning customers almost always pay full price, which is positioned as a reflection of the product's quality and longevity.

Quality & Materials

Lululemon’s main value proposition is its innovative, technical fabrics. Its proprietary materials like Nulu™ and Luon™ are engineered for sweat-wicking, four-way stretch, and shape retention over years of use and washing. The construction emphasizes durability with flat seams to reduce chafing, making it purpose-built for movement and performance.

Aritzia’s quality is excellent for modern fashion apparel. It uses comfortable, flattering materials like cotton, crease-resistant polyester blends, and merino wool that are designed to look great and withstand regular wear. However, these materials lack the technical properties needed for high-intensity exercise and are not intended for performance use.

Style & Aesthetic

Aritzia’s aesthetic is modern, minimalist, and on-trend. Its collections feature clean lines, neutral color palettes, and versatile designs great for creating chic, polished looks for the office or casual outings. It’s for someone whose style prioritizes fashion and current trends over pure function.

Lululemon’s style is sleek, sporty, and functional. Designs are contoured to the body to enhance performance, with athletic details like reflective markers and compression fits. While many Lululemon pieces have become everyday athleisure staples, their primary aesthetic serves an active lifestyle.

Fit & Sizing

Aritzia offers more varied fits across its different in-house lines, from the relaxed drape of Wilfred Free to the structured tailoring of Babaton. Their sizing typically runs from XXS to XL, which caters to a broad range of body shapes who may prefer fits that are not exclusively body-hugging.

Lululemon’s sizing is famous for its consistency and performance-oriented, snug fit. Numerically sized from 0-14 (and up to 20 in some styles), their bottoms are specifically designed to hug and support the body during activity. While perfect for workouts, this may feel too compressive for those looking for a looser, more relaxed fit for casual wear.

Sustainability & Ethics

Both brands are actively working on their sustainability efforts. Lululemon has published clear environmental goals focused on reducing carbon emissions and increasing the use of sustainable materials. Its higher price point and focus on durability also implicitly encourage customers to buy less and use products longer.

As a fashion retailer with regularly changing seasonal collections, Aritzia operates closer to a faster fashion model. The company has sustainability initiatives in place for ethical sourcing and waste reduction but faces greater challenges in breaking away from the consumption cycles inherent in trend-focused retail.

Which One Should You Choose?

The right choice comes down to what you're dressing for. Both brands are leaders in their respective categories but serve very different purposes.

Choose Aritzia if:

• You're building a wardrobe with versatile pieces for work, an evening out, or stylish weekends.
• You prioritize current aesthetics and minimalist, chic clothing.
• Your budget is mid-range, and you appreciate the opportunity to shop during seasonal sales.
• You need a variety of fits, from tailored trousers to oversized sweaters.

Choose Lululemon if:

• You are buying clothes primarily for athletic activities like yoga, running, or gym training.
• You value technical performance, moisture-wicking properties, and long-term durability.
• You are willing to invest a premium price for superior quality and fabric innovation.
• You love the feel of comfortable, body-hugging athleisure wear for an active lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Aritzia or Lululemon more expensive?

Lululemon is consistently more expensive than Aritzia. A pair of Lululemon leggings ($98+) often costs more than a pair of Aritzia pants or jeans, and Lululemon rarely has significant sales available to the public.

Which is better for work clothes?

Aritzia is the clear winner for work clothes. Brands like Babaton and Wilfred specialize in office-appropriate blouses, tailored trousers (like the Effortless Pant), blazers, and dresses that are both professional and stylish.

Which brand has better quality leggings?

Lululemon has better quality leggings for athletic performance. Their proprietary fabrics are unmatched in stretch, comfort, and durability during workouts. Aritzia’s TNA leggings are popular for their soft feel and affordability but are best suited for lounging and casual wear.

Is Aritzia considered fast fashion?

Aritzia occupies a space between fast fashion and high-end retail. While it introduces new collections seasonally to stay on-trend, it emphasizes higher quality materials and construction compared to traditional fast-fashion brands. Its prices also reflect this higher quality.

How does sizing compare between Aritzia and Lululemon?

Aritzia uses standard lettered sizing (XXS–XL) and offers a diverse range of fits. Lululemon uses numerical sizing (0–14+) and is known for its consistent, body-hugging athletic fit. Most shoppers find both brands to run true to size, but Lululemon's fit is intentionally snug and compressive.

Can you wear Aritzia clothes to the gym?

Most Aritzia clothing, especially items from TNA, is not designed for intense workouts, as the fabrics lack moisture-wicking and supportive properties. For an activity like yoga flow, their athleisure can work, but Lululemon is purpose-built for high-performance exercise.

Do Aritzia and Lululemon ever have sales?

Yes, but their sale strategies differ. Aritzia has several big sales a year with deep discounts. Lululemon's main discount is on its "We Made Too Much" section, which features a limited assortment of items that are final sale.

What are each brand’s most iconic products?

Aritzia is known for the Babaton Effortless Pant, the TNA A-line Fleece Shorts, the Wilfred Melina Pant, and the Super Puff jacket. Lululemon's iconic designs include the Align legging, comparable in recognition to Nike's Swoosh brandmark.