By Cody Kline TheStreet
They wore it to yoga, to brunch, to Coachella.
Alo Yoga wasn't just about leggings - it was a lifestyle. Endorsed by celebrities and influencers, the brand marketed itself as a pillar of wellness: clean aesthetics, mindfulness, and movement.
Related: Fans of giant yoga brand are walking away: here's why
But under that carefully curated image, some customers and employees now say things aren't so serene.
On Reddit, one former loyalist has called for a boycott, although it does not seem like there's much momentum behind that actually happening. The reasons? Declining product quality, rising prices, and disturbing allegations about the company's internal culture.
Image source: Koerner/Getty Images
Allo's influencer illusion is wearing thin
Across multiple threads on r/aloyoga, users shared frustration with how the brand's products are holding up, given what they're paying for them.
"Insanity is buying from them after all the posts here about poor quality," wrote Pure-Act1143.
Edlo9596 added: "It's a shame the quality is so bad.... I'll never buy anything from the Accolade line again."
Even resale workers are taking note. "I work at a thrift store," wrote Preston, "The amount of Alo I have almost thrown away during sorting because I genuinely thought it was SHEIN."
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But it's not just the products. On platforms like Glassdoor and Indeed, former employees describe an environment that contrasts sharply with the brand's tranquil public image.
One manager described Alo as having "high turnover and toxic" energy, citing "incompetence and lack of communication from upper management."
Another employee said, "It's all smoke and mirrors - the company cares more about image than actual well-being."
A former HQ product manager added, "If you value your mental health, dignity, career, or livelihood, I strongly recommend not joining Alo."
Criticism spans departments - from retail associates to corporate roles - with several ex-employees mentioning a mismatch between the company's wellness message and internal operations.
The disconnect is hard to ignore. A brand once seen as a beacon of modern wellness is now being called a corporate catfish - serene on the surface, but falling apart at the seams.
Can the brand bounce back?
Alo isn't the first lifestyle company to face backlash, and it won't be the last. But what makes this moment different is how deeply the criticism cuts across both product and principle.
People aren't just questioning the stitching on a pair of leggings. They're questioning whether Alo is what it says it is. And in today's consumer landscape, that kind of disconnect can be more damaging than a defective item.
Alo hasn't publicly addressed the boycott, and it continues to post daily affirmations and influencer content on social media.
But behind the curated calm, the brand faces a test more difficult than any yoga pose: regaining the trust of a customer base that's beginning to turn away.
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This story was originally published April 23, 2025 at 11:03 AM.
