The Vancouver-based retailer held a yoga event at China’s Great Wall featuring actor Zhu Yilong and a large drum—one that resembled a Japanese taiko drum. The activewear company apologized on the social media site Weibo, saying it should have been more cautious and thorough, and that “due to limitations in our professional knowledge, we were unable to identify potential controversies.” (Financial Times, Nikkei Asia)

Talking point: Lululemon said it will learn from its mistake, but that might be cold comfort for its social media team amid online backlash in China. Rivals like Adidas are trying to appeal to growing global interest in Chinese fashion, or “Chinamaxxing,” and Lululemon executives cited the Great Wall event as an example of their new marketing strategy in a June 4 earnings call, where they predicted sales in China would rise 20 per cent this year. Lululemon has faced similar criticisms in the past, firing an art director in 2020 for sharing links to a racist shirt design.