With Athleisure Conquered, lululemon Taps a Dancing Designer to Take on Fashion (EXCLUSIVE)
What is lululemon?
Creative director Jonathan Cheung defines lululemon is "a performance apparel brand." Some could describe it as workout gear. Others might simply call it athleisure. For plenty more, lululemon is simply the clothing brand they wear every single day.
Saul Nash, meanwhile, is shifting lululemon into fashion label, one that's still seriously functional but also seriously stylish.
Not that he minds labels, or anything.
"I don’t see athleisure as merely a trend—it’s a lifestyle," Nash tells Highsnobiety. "I believe SLNSH takes this concept to the next level. It’s not just athleisure; it’s a collection of truly distinctive pieces, designed with a deep awareness of both functionality and how they seamlessly integrate into multiple aspects of the wearer’s life."
SLNSH is a multi-season collaboration imbued with lululemon's high-spec manufacturing know-how and shaped by Nash's design language. Like lululemon's style-conscious mainline collections, SLNSH is made for life, not just workouts. Its clothes are utilitarian, versatile, comfortable, reframing clothing conventional with bespoke materials and anatomical cuts.
The difference is Saul Nash.
"Saul’s a natural fit for lululemon," Cheung says. "It quickly became apparent that SLNSH was going to be very much formed from our DNA, just with the volume dialed right up. When you see the SLNSH collection, you’ll immediately recognise the brands behind it."
Specifically, Cheung points out how the LVMH Prize semi-finalist incorporated "hourglass-like curves" into SLNSH, translating the shape of the lululemon logo and womenswear into unexpected seams that curve around pliable T-shirts, and mesh-paneled pants.
First seen in Nash's Fall/Winter 2025 runway show, SLNSH debuts on March 11 via lululemon's website with jacquard-knit base-layers, meaty French terry lounge pants, ripstop pants, and weather-resistant outerwear, all riddled with adjustable zips and tabs.
It's a complete wardrobe of slickly modern garments, rendered in neutrals but accented with enough pattern and pop to cut through a crowd. Purposely premium touches abound, from the exaggerated zipper pulls to the woven panels applied where the body craves breathability.
"The intention behind SLNSH was to create a wardrobe that is genuinely technical yet adaptable beyond the confines of performance, pieces that seamlessly integrate into the daily lives of the wearer," Nash explains.
"For example, jackets designed for running that, when the sleeves are removed, transform into stylish overshirts. Cactus leather bags that function as a sling but also as a handbag. We also reimagined lululemon’s classic Define Jacket from power mesh and Everlux [a proprietary quick-dry stretch textile], adding a sensual edge by layering mesh."
32-year-old Nash was trained as a dancer and also works as a choreographer, which informs much of his eponymous label's sporty oeuvre. His apparel combats clothing's restrictive norms — Nash figures that it's not worth living with clothes you wouldn't want to live in. Lululemon concurs, though Cheung clarifies that SLNSH will not necessarily restricted to "Everyday wardrobe appeal."
However, SLNSH will always be made to move.
"There are so many clothes in the world today, and I believe a garment not only has to look great but also evoke a feeling in the wearer," says Nash. "A good fabric must be visually compelling while also serving the intended function of the piece, creating a sensory experience for the person wearing it. I really tapped into the mindset of, 'I can wear this to work out, but also go out in it.'"
The ongoing SLNSH offerings present the logical next step in lululemon's patient evolution. It's already worn every day by countless millions but by conquering magazine covers and smartly snagging talent like Saul Nash, lululemon is on its way to staking out a serious fashion claim.
"I can’t say anything right now," Cheung says of lululemon's future fashion partners. "But hopefully we’ll be chatting again in the not-too-distant future."
"I would assume this partnership is unexpected, and I really liked that idea," Nash adds. "I think you only have to look at lululemon’s innovation in materials and exceptional quality to understand why this collaboration makes sense. This marks a long-term partnership that has taken us on a journey, which was important—the ability to work together over an extended period to refine our concepts and create products we are truly proud of."
