Spiritual Gangster vs. Lululemon: Which brand should you buy? [2026]
Lululemon is a premium athleisure brand known for high-performance, technical fabrics and a sleek, minimalist aesthetic designed for intense workouts and everyday luxury. Spiritual Gangster, on the other hand, is a lifestyle brand focused on comfort, mindfulness, and a relaxed, bohemian-chic vibe, with designs featuring uplifting slogans and softer, casual materials.
Let's compare them side-by-side to help you decide which activewear brand aligns with your style and needs.
Spiritual Gangster: The Mindful Lifestyle Brand
Spiritual Gangster blends yoga-inspired apparel with a focus on positivity and casual comfort. The brand is designed for those who want their clothing to reflect a mindful, wellness-focused lifestyle. Their target customer values self-care and a laid-back style that feels both stylish and easy to wear, perfect for a yoga class, running errands, or lounging at home.
- Product mix: Collections include leggings, graphic t-shirts and tanks, cozy hoodies, sports bras, and sweatpants, often featuring spiritual symbols or positive affirmations.
- Price point: A mid-range brand with leggings typically priced between $50 and $120, and hoodies around $150.
- Quality & Materials: Emphasizes soft, comfortable materials like cotton blends, modal, and other eco-friendly fabrics. The quality is focused more on everyday comfort than on technical performance for intense activities.
- Style & Aesthetic: The overall vibe is bohemian, relaxed, and spiritual. Expect earthy tones, pastel shades, and a laid-back feel that's less about compression and more about effortless style.
- Sizing/Fit: Garments generally fit true to size, but the brand is known for offering many relaxed-fit, oversized, and flowy styles that prioritize comfort over a snug, athletic cut.
- Sustainability: Uses eco-friendly fabrics and emphasizes ethical manufacturing practices as part of its core brand identity.
Spiritual Gangster is ideal for shoppers seeking comfortable, stylish clothes that align with a wellness-oriented mindset at a more accessible price.
Shop Spiritual Gangster: spiritualgangster.com
Lululemon: The Leader in Performance Athleisure
Lululemon is a globally recognized leader in premium athletic apparel, building its reputation on innovative fabrics, an exceptional fit, and a streamlined, modern look. The brand targets fitness enthusiasts, urban professionals, and anyone who wants high-performance activewear that seamlessly transitions from a workout to daily life without sacrificing style or support.
- Product mix: Offers a wide range of leggings, sports bras, tops, jackets, shorts, and accessories engineered for activities like yoga, running, and training.
- Price point: Operates in the premium to luxury category. Core leggings start at $98 and can go up to $150 or more for special editions.
- Technology/Innovation: Famous for proprietary fabrics like the buttery-soft Nulu&trade,, supportive Luon&trade,, and workout-ready Everlux&trade,, which offer superior moisture-wicking and four-way stretch.
- Quality & Materials: Renowned for its durability and construction. The technical fabrics are designed to withstand years of rigorous use and washing while retaining their shape and performance features.
- Style & Aesthetic: Sleek, minimalist, and sophisticated. The look is versatile, often featuring subtle branding and solid, modern colors that are easy to mix and match.
- Sizing/Fit: Known for a consistent, true-to-size fit. The cuts are ergonomic and designed to move with the body, offering support and compression where needed for active movement.
Lululemon is built for those who prioritize fabric technology, longevity, and a minimalist style, and are willing to invest in premium quality for their fitness and daily activities.
Shop Lululemon: shop.lululemon.com
Spiritual Gangster vs. Lululemon Comparison
Price Comparison
Lululemon sits at a significantly higher price point. Their most popular leggings, like the Align or Wunder Train styles, are consistently priced around $98-$128. Specialized items can easily push past $150. This premium price is justified by their investment in fabric research, development, and high-quality construction.
Spiritual Gangster is more moderately priced, making it more accessible. Most of their leggings and sports bras fall within the $50 to $120 range. While still a considered purchase, it's not at the luxury level of Lululemon, yet offers good quality for its focus on fashion-forward comfort.
Quality & Materials
Quality at Lululemon means performance and durability. Their proprietary fabrics are the star of the show, engineered for high-impact activities with features like moisture-wicking, shape retention, and a barely-there feel. This technical edge makes them a top choice for serious athletes who need their gear to last through frequent, intense use.
Spiritual Gangster's focus is on quality of softness and wearability. Their fabrics, often including organic cotton and modal blends, are chosen for their cozy, comfortable feel against the skin. While perfectly suitable for low-impact activities like yoga or walking, they are not designed to endure the same level of stress as Lululemon's technical gear.
Style & Aesthetic
The style divide is one of the most significant differences. Lululemon’s aesthetic is built around sleek, modern minimalism. It's sophisticated, versatile, and understated, relying on flattering cuts and solid colors to make a statement. Their pieces easily transition from the gym to streetwear without looking out of place.
Spiritual Gangster is much more expressive and bohemian. Their aesthetic features uplifting slogans, spiritual icons like the Hamsa hand, and a vibe that is instantly recognizable. The designs are more playful and fashion-forward, with relaxed silhouettes and a distinctive, laid-back personality that appeals to someone who wants their clothing to convey a message.
Fit & Sizing
Lululemon offers a precise, "second-skin" fit designed to support the body during movement. Their sizing is consistent and often includes compression, hugging your curves to stay put during any exercise. Many styles come in various lengths to accommodate different heights.
Spiritual Gangster is also typically true to size, but their fit is more relaxed. Even an item in your normal size might have an intentionally oversized or loose drape. This is ideal for those who prefer clothing that isn't restrictive and provides more room for comfort, especially in their tanks, hoodies, and sweatpants.
Sustainability & Ethics
Both brands are making strides in sustainability, though their approaches differ. Lululemon addresses sustainability through a large-scale corporate lens, setting public goals for recycled materials, reducing environmental impact, and providing transparency reports on its supply chain.
For Spiritual Gangster, mindful and ethical production feels more ingrained in the brand's core ethos. They often highlight their use of eco-friendly fabrics and partnerships with charitable organizations focused on wellness and positivity.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both brands offer excellent products, but they serve different priorities. Your choice will come down to your personal style, activity level, and budget.
Choose Spiritual Gangster if:
- You prefer a relaxed, bohemian style with graphics, slogans, and a spiritual vibe.
- Your primary activities are yoga, walking, or simply lounging in comfortable, stylish clothes.
- You want high-quality casualwear at a moderate price point.
- Comfort and a soft feel are more important to you than technical performance.
Choose Lululemon if:
- You need durable, high-performance activewear for intense workouts like running, spinning, or HIIT.
- You prefer a sleek, minimalist, and versatile aesthetic that can blend in anywhere.
- You view activewear as an investment and are willing to pay a premium for fabric technology and longevity.
- A second-skin fit with supportive compression is essential for your comfort and performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Spiritual Gangster or Lululemon cheaper?
Spiritual Gangster is significantly more affordable. Their activewear is positioned at a mid-range price point, while Lululemon is a premium, high-end brand with higher prices across all categories.
Which brand is better for high-intensity workouts?
Lululemon is the clear winner for high-intensity workouts. Its proprietary fabrics are engineered for sweat-wicking, durability, and support, making them ideal for running, cross-training, and other rigorous activities.
Which is better for yoga and casual wear?
Both brands are excellent for yoga and casual wear, but for different reasons. Spiritual Gangster is perfect if you want a soft, comfortable, and stylish look that reflects a mindful lifestyle. Lululemon’s Align collection is a fan favorite for yoga due to its buttery-soft Nulu&trade, fabric and incredible stretch.
How does the sizing compare between the brands?
Both are generally true to size. However, Lululemon’s fit is athletic and often compressive, designed to stay in place during movement. Spiritual Gangster offers more relaxed and oversized fits in many of its tops and loungewear.
What is Lululemon known for?
Lululemon is best known for its game-changing leggings, particularly the Align pant, and its innovative, high-performance fabrics that offer both comfort and durability.
Is Spiritual Gangster good quality?
Yes, Spiritual Gangster offers good quality products, especially for its price point. The brand focuses on soft, comfortable fabrics designed for everyday wear and low-impact activities.
Is Spiritual Gangster a sustainable brand?
Spiritual Gangster prioritizes sustainability by using eco-friendly materials like organic cotton and recycled fabrics, as well as incorporating ethical manufacturing practices into its business model.
Do the leggings from these brands pill?
Lululemon’s performance-oriented fabrics like Luxtreme&trade, and Everlux&trade, are highly resistant to pilling. Their softer Nulu&trade, fabric (in Align pants) can be more prone to pilling with high friction, so care instructions should be followed. Spiritual Gangster's softer, cotton-blend fabrics may show more wear over time compared to Lululemon's technical materials.
