Lululemon Athletica (LULU) Recalls Drawstrings on Women’s Hoodies

Lululemon Athletica (NASDAQ:LULU) recalled the drawstrings used in its women’s hoodies in response to the report that seven consumers sustained injuries in their eyes and faces.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the elastic drawstring with a hard metal or plastic tip used in the hood or around the neck area of Lululemon women’s top product can snap back if pulled or caught in something and released, which could impact the face resulting in injury.

The Commission said the company recalled approximately 318 units of Lululemon women’s tops including 133,000 units in the United States and 185,000 units in Canada.

The recalled Lululemon women’s tops come in different colors and styles including the Carry and Go Hoodie, Cool Down Jacket, Course-ette Jacket, Cozy Up Jacket, Dance Studio Jacket, Dance Sweat Shirt, among others. Each of the women’s tops display an embroidered or printed Lululemon logo.

“Consumers should stop wearing the tops with the elastic draw cord and either remove the draw cord or contact Lululemon to request a new, non-elastic draw cord with written instructions on how to replace the draw cord,” according to the Commission.

Lululemon regrets inconvenience to consumers

Lululemon said the women’s tops that have elastic drawstrings with hard metal or plastic tips were primarily sold before 2014. The company is encouraging consumers to remove the drawstring or contact its Guest Education Center to receive a non-elastic replacement.

“Our main priority is ensuring our product works for our guests, and we believe this is the necessary proactive action. We are committed to making our product right for our guests and regret any inconvenience this may have caused them,” said Lululemon in a statement.

Lululemon appoints Miguel Almeida as EVP, digital

Separately, Lululemon Athletica announced the appointment of Miguel Almeida as executive vice president, digital. He will report to the company’s CEO Laurent Potdevin.

Prior to joining Lululemon, Almeida recently served as group vice president, digital commerce and mobile solutions at Walgreens.  He also held senior positions in the online business units at Dell and Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL).

Potdevin believed that Almeida is well-position to champion Lululemon’s digital world based on his track record of accelerating digital transformations.

On the other hand, Almeida said, “Digital provides a unique platform to amplify the power of the Lululemon brand in innovative ways, deepen the connection with our guests across all channels and extend our reach globally. Ultimately, it’s about helping guests find inspiration, the right product and empowering them to live their best lives.