AN UPMARKET sportswear brand is to open a new shop in the city centre.

Lululemon, which specialises in activewear, will open the doors to its new 1,700sq ft store in North Street, Brighton, later this month.

It is the first time Lululemon has opened a shop in the city.

The site, which is part of the Hannington’s Estate, was previously occupied by Cath Kidston before the retainer closed all 60 of its stores in 2020.

A spokesman for Lululemon said: “The new location will showcase lululemon’s innovative product for yoga, running, training and other activities, all designed using the brand’s high-performance fabrics.

“By building authentic relationships with guests and local ambassadors, lululemon focuses on creating a community through a local grassroots approach.”

The management of the Hanningtons Estate, a 1.32-acre site covering lower North Street and the Lanes, was acquired by retail management company Redevco in 2016.

The new lane opened in 2019 and now includes shops and restaurants such as Riddle and Finns, Habitat, Kurt Geiger, Sandro, Maje, The Flint House and Oliver Bonas.

Chris Baker from Redveco said the opening of the new Lululemon store shows how the area is developing into a “unique” shopping district.

He said: “Redveco has invested heavily in the infrastructure, design and configuration of the shops on North Street.

“We have attracted major brands such as Habitat, Joe and the Juice, Watches of Switzerland and Hotel Chocolat and worked closely with the local authority to greatly improve the experience North Street provides.

“We are delighted that lululemon is joining us - a truly inspiring brand with an enormous international following.”

Lululemon was founded in Vancouver, Canada in 1998 and specialises in clothing for activities such as yoga, running and training.

The company operates 574 stores worldwide and 43 locations in Europe.

It recently launched its first ever running shoe, designed especially for women’s feet.

The shoe has been engineered with an upper that supports movement and an energy-filled underfoot foam cushioning technology – which aims to enhance distance running.