Hundreds gather outside Student Stores in anticipation of Lululemon-UNC collaboration

Ready for the rain with their ponchos and umbrellas, UNC students began forming a line outside the Student Stores as early as 2 a.m. on Friday morning. Over the next six hours, the line grew steadily, eagerly awaiting the 8 a.m. opening and eventually wrapped around the entire store. 

The queue, surrounding The Pit outside the store, gathered with one goal in mind: to be one of the first 100 people to purchase a Lululemon item and receive a free belt bag, which normally sells for $38. 

On Sept. 13, Lululemon — an activewear brand — released its collaboration with UNC, available exclusively at the Student Stores. 

“The original plan was [to get in line at] about 6:45 a.m., which didn't seem too crazy,” sophomore Madison Allred said. “Then, among talking to some of our other friends, who had talked to other people and Student Store workers, somewhere along the line, 6:45 became 2:00.” 

Lululemon partnered with the University of Michigan in 2021, where every item sold out in hours. Since then, the brand has expanded to numerous colleges around the country. 

Lululemon first launched at the UNC campus on Sept. 21, 2022, when products were sold exclusively in the Student Stores for a couple of weeks. Ever since, many students have been hoping the brand would someday make a return. And this year, that wish came true. 

While waiting outside the store, Allred said students were engaged in a variety of activities to keep themselves busy. Some were on their laptops doing work, others watching shows and some even took the opportunity to get some sleep. 

Although the Student Store sent an email with photos of a few items the day before, most didn’t know exactly what would be available inside. 

“I didn’t have a huge idea in mind of all the possibilities,” Allred said. “My roommate, on the other hand, had kind of done her research and looked at other collegiate Lululemon drops, so we kind of saw the type of items that were available.” 

Throughout the waiting experience, Student Store employees provided students with ponchos and catered free breakfast from Panera. Allred said the employees shared the enthusiasm of the students waiting.  

When the doors opened at 8 a.m., Allred said it was very exciting. Although she was about the 20th person in line, Allred was the first student to check out and receive a free belt bag. Her first purchase: a light gray jacket adorned with a Tar Heel foot.  

Inside the store, there are a variety of items available to purchase, selling anywhere between $36 to $154.  Lululemon Scuba Full-Zip and Half-Zip Scuba jackets, Swift Pants, Tennis Skirts and much more, all embroidered with a North Carolina logo, lined the racks. 

“I was really excited about the leggings, which I actually have right now, and the jackets,” first-year Layla Prescott said. 

Students continued to arrive at the store for the entire day. Yan said she arrived after class around 2 p.m., and the line had already died down. When she got there, Yan said her size and merchandise were still there. 

For Yan, she didn’t really understand the point of getting to the store so early. 

“I felt like it was kind of crazy and a little ridiculous,” Yan said. ”I was here at two or three, and there was no one here.” 

Allred said she understands why some students wouldn’t understand getting in line early. It’s been a week since the drop, and all of the items are still in the store and will remain available for now. 

However, Allred said she would do it all again. 

“I would say it was worth it for the memories and the experience with my friends,” Allred said. “I'm never going to get to do something like that again.”

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