WASHINGTON — High-end athleticwear company Lululemon is suing Costco, accusing the warehouse retailer of selling knockoffs of Lululemon’s clothing. 

The lawsuit, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, accuses Costco of selling knockoffs, or “dupes” as they’re known in the fashion world, for a fraction of the price. One example pointed out in the lawsuit is the Scuba hoodie. Lululemon lists their hoodies for more than $100, while Costco’s version is listed online at about $8.

The lawsuit alleges that Costco is intentionally mimicking the Lululemon-brand clothing in an effort to make customers think they are the same. 

Lululemon alleges that Costco is known to use manufacturers of popular branded products for its private label Kirkland brand, but that the company and the manufacturers don’t tell consumers of the connection between them for many of the Kirkland-branded products.

“Upon information and belief, some customers incorrectly believe these Infringing Products are authentic lululemon apparel while still other customers specifically purchase the Infringing Products because they are difficult to distinguish from authentic lululemon products, particularly for downstream purchasers or observers,” the lawsuit alleges. 

The company is asking the court to stop Costco from selling the “dupes” of Lululemon products, and for repayment to “recover fully” from the revenue lost by customers buying the Costco versions of the outfits instead. 

According to the lawsuit, the Costco products Lululemon claims infringe on their own include the “Danskin Ladies Half-Zip Hoodie,” “Danskin Half-Zip Pullover,” “Jockey Ladies Yoga Jacket,” “Spyder Women’s Yoga Jacket,” “Hi-Tec Men’s Scuba Full Zip,” and “Kirkland 5 Pocket Performance Pant.”

Lululemon, a Vancouver-based clothing company, has made a name for itself in recent years by selling athleisurewear such as sweats and leggings, that often cost significantly more than similar products sold at other stores.

It’s not the first time the company has sued over knockoff apparel before. In 2021, Lululemon sued Peloton, the stationary bike maker, for allegedly making and selling clothing that was similar to Lululemon products. After settling the lawsuit in 2022, the pair eventually went into business together, selling branded clothing. 

The Associated Press contributed to this story.