Lululemon Founder Offloads $160 Million in Amer Sports Stock, Fueling Kit + Ace Comeback Speculation
written by a member of the WCB
VANCOUVER, August 29, 2025 - Chip Wilson, the outspoken founder of athletic apparel giant Lululemon, has divested $160 million worth of his holdings in Amer Sports, according to a Bloomberg report released today. The significant stock sale represents a partial reduction of Wilson's approximately 20% stake in the sporting goods conglomerate that owns brands including Wilson, Salomon, and Arc'teryx.
Industry analysts are closely monitoring Wilson's financial maneuvers, with speculation mounting that the capital could be directed toward reviving Kit + Ace, the technical clothing brand previously launched by the Wilson family. The brand, which specialized in "technical cashmere" and functional everyday apparel, shuttered most of its operations in 2017 but has maintained a minimal online presence.
Brittney Donaldson, a retail industry analyst, believes the timing is strategic. "Wilson's move comes when the market is primed for premium technical apparel with day-to-night versatility," said Donaldson. "If Kit + Ace returns with updated designs while maintaining their technical fabric innovation, they could capture significant market share in the current consumer landscape."
Wilson's investment firm, Anamered, participated in the 2019 consortium that acquired Amer Sports for $5.5 billion alongside Chinese partners ANTA Sports, Tencent, and FountainVest. The company subsequently went public again, though recent quarterly reports have shown mixed performance across global markets.
Neither Wilson nor representatives from Kit + Ace have officially commented on the potential revival of the brand. However, sources familiar with the matter indicate preliminary steps toward reestablishing the brand's manufacturing and distribution networks have been initiated in recent months.
The technical apparel segment continues to show robust growth potential, particularly as consumers increasingly prioritize versatile, high-performance clothing suitable for both professional and casual environments in the post-pandemic landscape.