Lululemon's Resale Program Lets You Score Discounted Leggings—Here's How

Who doesn't love a good thrift find? There's something thrilling about spotting your next favorite clothing item among the thrift store racks. And the best part is that secondhand shopping is one of the most eco-friendly ways to shop. Luckily for consumers, more big brands are hopping on this trend and launching resale programs—and yes, Lululemon is one of them.

Starting on April 22, 2022 (Earth Day!), Lululemon is launching a trade-in and resale program for consumers. Shoppers can trade in their gently-used Lululemon products for store credit. And the company will "refresh it for someone else to make active." The program is called Like New, so consumers can find preowned Lululemon gear that looks and feels good as new... for a fraction of the cost.

This isn't the first resale program we've seen on the market—and it surely won't be the last. Here's everything you need to know about Lululemon's Like New, including how the program creates a more circular economy.

How Does Lululemon's Like New Program Work?

According to Lululemon, the Like New program is launching across the U.S., with goals to lessen the brand's carbon footprint and "restore a healthy planet." The company says it's reinvesting 100% of Like New profits into its sustainability initiatives, which include "circular product design, renew and recycle programs, and store environmental programs."

And the program is simple. All you need to do is bring your gently-used Lululemon gear to your local Lululemon store—as long as your items are eligible for resale. Once you trade them in, you'll receive a store credit in the form of an e-gift card that can be used online or in stores.

You'll receive a $5 credit for tank tops, shirts, shorts, and skirts, and a $10 credit for hoodies, sweatshirts, sweaters, pants, crops, leggings, dresses, and bags. And you'll get a $25 credit for outerwear.

However, not all items are accepted for trade-in. To name a few, damaged items, accessories, yoga props, intimates, and swimsuits aren't eligible. You can find a full list of ineligible items on Lululemon's trade-in page.

Your preowned items will be revived, according to the brand. The company says it will "refresh your gently-worn pieces for someone else to make active again." And you can find the entire resale line in Lululemon's resale shop, with each item marked at a discounted price.

Lululemon's trade-in program brings the fashion industry a step closer to creating a more circular economy. Here's how.

Circular Fashion Is Going Mainstream

According to our research, circular fashion is trending—pushing fast fashion out of the picture. Circular fashion helps keep textiles out of the landfill. How? By allowing the industry to reuse and upcycle them for as long as possible. In other words, circular fashion practices like resale programs help us get the most out of pre-existing textiles.

And Lululemon isn't the only brand getting on board with a circular economy. We've already seen H&M's resale program and recycled denim collection. Nike is also taking part; hence, the brand's Circular Design Guide.

In other words, big brands are listening to what consumers are looking for. According to our research, conscious consumerism is on the rise, with about 73% of Americans considering environmental friendliness when shopping.

If consumers are voting with their dollars and telling brands they want to see more circular fashion on the market, we may be seeing more brands step up to the plate. And not only will we see a more circular economy, but we may see an increase in sustainable textiles on the market, too.