Lululemon apologises after Japanese drum row at Great Wall yoga event
Lululemon joins a tai chi-yoga session at the Huanghuacheng Lakeside Great Wall. Photograph: China News Service/Getty View image in fullscreen Lululemon joins a tai chi-yoga session at the Huanghuacheng Lakeside Great Wall. Photograph: China News Service/Getty Lululemon apologises after Japanese drum row at Great Wall yoga event Online uproar follows Canadian brand’s use of taiko drum at sponsored festival held to celebrate Chinese culture The activewear brand Lululemon has apologised after a promotional event held on the Great Wall of China appeared to mistakenly feature a Japanese drum, prompting an uproar. The Canadian-headquartered company, known for its upmarket leggings, has been growing rapidly in China and arranged for a yoga festival to take place in late May on a section of the wall near Beijing. More than 2,000 people were invited to take part in the event, which was advertised as promoting Chinese culture and wellness, according to the Chinese state-run tabloid Global Times , with the well-known Chinese actor Zhu Yilong booked to perform. Starbucks Korea to temporarily shut all stores for history lesson after bungled coffee promotion Read more Zhu joined a drum group on the Great Wall for what was described as a traditional Chinese drum performance and posted a picture of himself in front of one of the instruments, which had the Lululemon logo on it, on his account on Weibo, one of China’s largest social media platforms. Weibo users accused the group of using a Japanese taiko instrument rather than a Chinese dagu drum. Many described this as inappropriate and insulting, according to the Global Times. Drum discussions had gathered more than 50m views on Weibo by Monday, and Zhu’s studio called on Lululemon to respond to the controversy. The brand posted an apology to Zhu and to the public on Weibo on Tuesday, saying the event had been “intended to unwaveringly pay tribute to Chinese culture”. It said: “Due to limitations in our professional knowledge, we were unable to identify potential controversies initially, and we fully recognise that we should be more cautious and thorough in the early planning and review process of the drum performances.” The company pledged to “learn profound lessons” and to adopt “a more rigorous attitude” for future events. Lululemon has now removed all content related to the drum event from its website and social media. The Hiiko drum troupe that performed with Zhu also apologised. The incident highlights the risks for western brands hoping to expand in China of falling foul of domestic political and cultural sensibilities. Last year, the outdoor brand Arc’teryx issued an apology after a promotional fireworks display in the Tibetan plateau caused controversy over potential environmental damage. The Canadian company, part-owned by China’s Anta Group, faced calls for boycotts after the high-altitude show involving long stretches of choreographed pyrotechnics and coloured smoke along snow-topped Himalayan ridge
This is exactly the kind of cultural sensitivity that makes brands like Lululemon look out of touch. Yoga and tai chi are deeply rooted in Chinese philosophy - using Japanese drums at the Great Wall is like putting a McDonalds logo on the Eiffel Tower. Authentic cultural appreciation means respecting the origin, not just exploiting it for profit. #Lululemon #CulturalAppreciation #GreatWallYoga
This cultural misstep highlights how brands like Lululemon must better understand the philosophical roots of yoga and tai chi in Chinese culture. The Great Wall isnt just a backdropits a symbol of heritage and respect. Authentic cultural exchange requires genuine understanding, not just marketing spectacle.
This yoga + taiko drum mix feels like cultural appropriation disguised as wellness. Lululemons apology is too little, too late - true cultural exchange requires respect, not spectacle. The Great Wall deserves better than performative marketing. #Lululemon #CulturalAppropriation #YogaCulture
If Lululemons yoga event was meant to honor Chinese culture, why not let the local community lead the cultural expression instead of importing a Japanese drum performance? True respect means letting the locals decide whats appropriate, not just adding a flashy marketing stunt. What happens when corporate yoga events become cultural appropriation shows?