LuLaRoe is a multi-level marketing company that sells women’s apparel. As such, their products are only available for purchase through independent distributors known as “consultants”; they do not operate any stores. Instead, they rely on their consultants to sell directly to customers, often through online platforms.
Based in Corona, California, the brand manufactures a variety of clothing including leggings, tops, dresses, skirts, most of which feature unique patterns.
More About LuLaRoe
LuLaRoe was founded by Mark Stidham and Deanne Bradly in 2013. At that time, the company mainly focused on selling maxi skirts. Incredibly popular, they quickly made $3 in sales. From there, they eventually expanded their line to include skirts and dresses; they also began to design and create their own fabrics.
Within a few months, LuLaRoe launched a line of leggings, which proved to be extremely popular. With the help of hundreds of distributors, the brand earned nearly $10 million in 2014. From there, the brand continued to grow quickly. By 2015, they had more than 2,000 consultants across the United States.
LuLaRoe Controversy
In recent years, however, they have met a great amount of controversy. In 2017, the brand was involved in a class-action lawsuit, one that accused them of being a pyramid scheme. Not only that, but they were sued regarding incorrect sales taxes. Last December, they also received a lawsuit from their clothing supplier for delaying payment.
A Closer Look at LuLaRoe Products
LuLaRoe clothing is not particularly cheap, nor is it particularly expensive. Depending on what you get, their items can cost you anywhere from $25 to $65. For instance, their leggings typically go for above $30, whereas their dresses range between $50 to $65. With the recent backlash, however, some consultants have begun to sell them at wholesale pricing.
For the past few years, their leggings have been their most popular item. Available in a variety of styles (e.g. OC, Tall and Curvy), most feature bright patterns and unique designs, something that has become their trademark; the material is also known for being “buttery soft.” While they release thousands of copies of a given pattern, most are retired once they’re sold out; this generally increases the value of the more sought-out styles.
Taking Care of LuLaRoe Leggings
Despite their popularity, LuLaRoe leggings are infamous for being quite fragile. More specifically, many have experienced issues with fading and holes. Unfortunately, this is likely due to quality issues at the factory level (something that they have received much criticism about). For this reason, you should be extra careful when you’re putting them in the wash. After all, they’re not exactly cheap.
Before we go into washing instructions, though, let’s take a look at the types of fabrics that they use for their leggings. This will give us a better idea of how we should go about cleaning them.
What are LuLaRoe Leggings Made Out Of?
LuLaRoe leggings are known for their incredible softness. Despite not being advertised for workouts, many people opt to wear them to the gym. Why? They’re comfortable and they allow for a great range of movement.
As it turns out, though, the fabric that they’re made out of is actually suited for exercise—that is, they’re cut from polyester and spandex. As opposed to natural materials, such as cotton, these types of man-made fibers are moisture-wicking, which means that they naturally pull sweat from the skin; this allows wearers to stay dry even at the gym.
Polyester
Polyester is one of the most commonly used types of synthetic fiber in clothing. The reason is simple—it is inexpensive. Not only is it stronger than cotton but it is also more flexible and resistant to shrinking. On top of that, it holds color well; this makes it a popular choice for sports jerseys. Aside from jerseys, it is often used for other types of athletic apparel due to its moisture-wicking properties.
LuLaRoe leggings are mostly polyester.
Spandex
Spandex is another type of man-made fiber that is found in LuLaRoe leggings. Also known as Lycra or elastane, it provides clothing with a considerable amount of stretch and elasticity—this allows you to move easily during workouts.
As opposed to polyester, which can be used by itself in clothing, spandex is often incorporated with other types of material. In the case of LuLaRoe, it is mixed with polyester.
Polyester/Spandex Blend
Small amounts of spandex (less than 10 percent) can be added to polyester to create a softer, more comfortable blend. Compared to those cut from polyester, the resultant item is also much stretchier. For this reason, it is often used in activewear such as leggings.
LuLaroe leggings are mostly 92% polyester and 8% spandex.
How to Safely Wash LuLaRoe Leggings
As with most leggings, the ones from LuLaRoe are machine washable. With that said, you don’t want to just throw them in. If you want them to last, you’ll want to treat them as delicates.
How to Properly Machine Wash LuLaRoe Leggings
As you probably already know, their products tend to be vibrant and colorful. Given this, you want to be extra careful when you’re separating your laundry; the colors can easily bleed onto your other pieces of clothing. As it is, many people have experienced this problem with their leggings. Never put dark and light colored leggings together in the same load.
Gently turn the leggings inside out; this will help to prevent the colors from fading. Next, put them into their own laundry bags. If you don’t have laundry bags, you can make do with clean pillow cases. Measure and pour in a small amount of ACTIVE detergent according to the bottle’s instructions. Wash with cold water on a gentle cycle. Do not wash the leggings with hot water—that will likely impair the material. Avoid using other chemicals such as fabric softener and bleach.
Carefully remove the leggings from the machine when the cycle is finished. Hang them on a clothesline and allow them to air dry. Do not put them into the dryer (some of the labels say to tumble dry)—the heat will cause them to wear down quickly!
Pro-tip: If you want your LuLaRoe leggings to last, don’t wash them all the time. Unless you fell in mud, it’s perfectly fine for you to wear them a few times before putting them into the washer. The more you wash them, the faster they’ll wear down.
Washing Your LuLaRoe Leggings by Hand
Don’t want to use the machine just for your leggings? No problem—you can easily wash them by hand.
The first step is to prepare a soapy water mixture. Fill the sink or a tub 3/4 full with cool water; pour in a small amount of ACTIVE detergent. Swirl the liquid gently to mix the solution. Place your leggings in once it is well mixed—be careful not to overload the sink. Make sure each of them is fully submerged in the soapy water. Allow the leggings to sit in the sink for 15 to 30 minutes.
Pro-tip: As with machine washing, it’s a good idea to flip your LuLaRoe leggings inside out to prevent the colors from fading.
Once you’ve soaked them, wash the leggings by lightly scrubbing the fabric together. When you’re confident that they’re clean, rinse off the soap with plain water; you might have to repeat this a few times to get rid of it all. Do not twist or wring the leggings—that will stretch and damage the fabric. Instead, use a dry towel to soak up some of the extra water. Afterwards, lay them flat or hang them up to dry. Remember, do not put them in the dryer!
Getting Rid of Stains
LuLaroe leggings can get stained, just like any other clothing. Fortunately, they’re usually pretty easy to remove. One of the simplest methods is to dab on a bit of extra ACTIVE detergent onto the problem spot. Rub it into the fabric with your fingers before soaking them in the sink. For the most parts, that will do the trick. In some cases, however, you might need to use a stain remover.
Best Practices for Cleaning LuLaRoe Jade Pants
Aside from their standard leggings, LuLaRoe also sells Jade Pants, a type of capri leggings that is meant for working out. Stretchy with a yoga-style waistband, they are much better at drawing sweat away from the skin.
Note: LuLaRoe also has another line called Jordan, which is pretty much the same as Jade, except that it is full length.
As far as washing goes, their Jade Pants can pretty much be washed the same way as their regular leggings. In fact, you can probably put them in the same load given that they’re of similar colors! Since we’ve already gone over how to wash their leggings, let’s take a look at another issue—that is, how to tackle odors.
How to Remove Odors from LuLaRoe Jade Pants/Leggings
It’s not uncommon for leggings to develop a smell, especially if they’re worn for intense workouts. As it is, odor-causing bacteria tend to grow quicker on polyester than cotton. Don’t worry, though—there are a few easy ways to get rid of the smell.
Soaking Your Jade Pants/Leggings in a Water/Vinegar Solution
You can easily eliminate odors by soaking your leggings in a water/vinegar solution. As with hand washing, you can easily do so in the sink. Add one part vinegar to four parts water; mix by swirling and agitating the liquid. From there, place your leggings in and allow them to soak for at least 30 minutes (you can soak them for longer if you feel that it is necessary). The vinegar will do wonders on the smell.
Washing Your Jade Pants/Leggings in the Machine with Vinegar
As an alternative, you can wash your leggings with vinegar in the washing machine. All you have to do is add white vinegar instead of laundry detergent. Select a gentle cycle and wash with cold water as normal. By the end of the wash cycle, the odors will be gone. If necessary, you can wash them again, this time with ACTIVE detergent.
Keeping Your LuLaRoe Leggings From Stinking
As discussed earlier, LuLaRoe leggings tend to be prone to tearing. Considering this, you want to avoid washing them too often; that will help to prolong its life. However, you also don’t want them to get stinky after you wear the. What can you do?
Air Out Your LuLaRoe Leggings
Always bring a change of clothes to the gym—that way, you’ll be able to air out your leggings before you go home. By airing them out, you’ll give bacteria less of a chance to grow on the fabric; even a few minutes will help!
Do Not Leave Them in a Pile
The worse thing that you can do is to take them off and throw them in a corner with the rest of your clothes. This will lead to more odor-causing bacteria, ick!
Best Laundry Detergent for LuLaRoe Leggings
Using a detergent that is specially formulated for synthetic fibers is extremely important. Take, for instance, ACTIVE detergent; the formula is different from others in that it contains enzymes that help to physically break down body oils. By using such a detergent, it’ll be easier for you to wash away the sweat and oils.
