Texas investigates Lululemon over PFAS in yoga and activewear

A Texas probe into Lululemon has turned a familiar yoga-label comfort choice into a consumer-trust issue: whether the brand’s activewear contains PFAS, the persistent “forever chemicals” regulators say can linger in people and the environment.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a Civil Investigative Demand to Lululemon USA Inc. on April 13, 2026, opening a formal review of whether the company’s athletic apparel contains PFAS and whether its marketing could mislead shoppers who expect cleaner materials from a premium wellness brand. The Texas Attorney General’s Office said it will examine Lululemon’s restricted substances list, testing protocols and supply-chain practices to determine whether the products comply with state safety standards.

That matters far beyond a legal filing. Lululemon is one of the most recognizable names in yoga and fitness apparel, and its image rests on the idea that the clothes people wear for class, training and travel align with health-conscious values. Paxton’s office has said consumer concerns and emerging research raise questions about whether certain synthetic materials in apparel could be linked to endocrine disruption, infertility, cancer and other health risks.

Lululemon said it phased out PFAS in early 2024 and that the substances had been used only in a small share of durable water-repellent products. The company also said it is cooperating with the investigation by providing documentation. Its October 2025 Restricted Substances List includes a PFAS appendix, and its 2024 Impact Report says it completed about 400 restricted-substances assessments that year, underscoring that chemical compliance already sits inside the brand’s internal controls.

The health backdrop is broad and unsettling. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says PFAS are persistent chemicals with health and environmental concerns, and its PFAS page was last updated on February 19, 2026. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences says PFAS are found widely in people and the environment and have been associated with multiple health effects. For consumers buying yoga leggings, bras and outerwear, the question is no longer just stretch, sweat-wicking and squat-proof performance. It is whether the premium wellness story on the tag can survive scrutiny over what is in the fiber, the finish and the supply chain.