Shoppers visiting the new Lululemon flagship store in SoHo might notice something new and original when they sit down. Several of the seating elements inside the space were not carved from wood or molded from plastic in the traditional way. Instead, they were 3D printed.
The store features custom 3D printed benches produced by multiple companies. Decibel Built created a series of woven benches printed on a Caracol large-format system, while Branch Technology fabricated two additional benches and a display shroud using its proprietary C-Fab® process.
3D printed bench at Lululemon’s SoHo flagship store. Image courtesy of Lululemon.
Decibel Built’s Woven Benches
Decibel Built, a Tennessee-based design and fabrication studio, produced woven 3D printed benches for the store using a Caracol Heron large-format robotic system. These benches feature a textile-like surface pattern created directly through the 3D printing toolpath. Rather than applying branding after fabrication, the pattern is built into the structure itself.
3D printed bench at Lululemon’s SoHo flagship store. Image courtesy of Lululemon.
The benches were printed from a bio-based, plant-fiber reinforced material. This choice supports sustainability goals and reflects Lululemon’s broader focus on responsible materials. The result is seating that feels strong and durable, yet visually soft and woven in appearance.
Decibel was involved in the design, printing, assembly, and installation of its woven benches inside the SoHo location.
Branch Technology’s C-Fab® Installations
Branch Technology also contributed 3D printed elements to the store. The company created two additional benches, located near the footwear section, as well as a display shroud used for merchandise presentation.
These pieces were produced using Branch Technology’s patented Cellular Fabrication (C-Fab®) process. In this system, robotic arms print an open lattice structure called the BranchMatrix, which allows for complex geometries. Polyurethane foam is then injected into the lattice to create a solid form. A 7-axis milling process refines the object to its final shape, and for this project, a Texston® TU/TEM exposed rock system was used to finish the surface of the benches.
The display shroud at the Lululemon SoHo flagship store. Photo courtesy of Branch Technology.
According to Branch Technology CEO Ryan Lusk, this project was “rooted in a shared commitment to elevating the customer environment through design excellence and meticulous attention to detail.”
According to Branch Technology, the resulting furnishings are up to eight times lighter than traditional concrete while maintaining structural strength.
Custom BranchClad bench in the new Lululemon SoHo flagship store. Image courtesy of Branch Technology.
A Template for Future Stores
The Lululemon location at 524 Broadway, at the corner of Spring Street in SoHo, opened in late 2025 and was designed to be more than a retail space. The store includes digital elements, community-focused programming, and design features meant to create a stronger in-person shopping experience.
Lululemon has described the SoHo store as a model or template for future locations. That means design details like the benches are not just seating, but part of the brand’s identity inside the space.
Because this store is a model for future locations, 3D printed elements could appear in more Lululemon stores. For the 3D printing industry, this is quite important as it expands additive manufacturing beyond the industries we are most familiar with, like aerospace, medical, defense, and tooling. And it does something that other industries cannot do: it puts the technology right in front of the consumers. It’s quite a visible application.
What’s more, large-format 3D printing is ideal for this kind of application. It allows custom forms, embedded branding, and on-demand production without the need for molds. For one-off flagship stores or limited design rollouts, that flexibility is valuable.
Lululemon SoHo flagship store. Image courtesy of Lululemon.
3D Printing Moves Into Retail Infrastructure
3D printing in fashion has usually focused on footwear, midsoles, or performance gear. But this project shows a different angle, and one that is visually important for customers: retail infrastructure. In this case, 3D printing is being used to build the store itself, not the merchandise.
This matters because retail is changing. Physical stores are expected to offer something extra, something that online shopping cannot. Using new materials and strong design choices helps the store feel special and unique. The 3D printed benches and display elements in the SoHo flagship put large-format 3D printing directly in front of consumers and add something new to the store. Shoppers may not know the technical details behind each process, but they can see and experience that these pieces are different from traditional store furnishings.
3D printed bench at Lululemon’s SoHo flagship store. Image courtesy of Lululemon.
A Visible Application of Large-Format AM
Large-format additive manufacturing is well-suited for custom retail installations. It allows designers to create unique forms without molds and to produce pieces specifically tailored to a single location.
3D printed bench at Lululemon’s SoHo flagship store. Image courtesy of Lululemon.
In the case of the Lululemon SoHo flagship, different additive approaches were used to achieve different design outcomes. Decibel’s woven benches highlight toolpath-driven surface design and bio-based materials, while Branch Technology’s installations demonstrate its lattice-based C-Fab® process and lightweight structural capabilities.
Together, these projects show how additive manufacturing can move beyond prototypes and into permanent retail environments. If you are in SoHo, you can see and sit on the benches at 524 Broadway and experience how 3D printing is becoming part of everyday spaces.
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3DPrint.com originally reported that all of the 3D printed furnishings in this project were produced by Decibel Built. The article has been updated to clarify that both Decibel Built and Branch Technology contributed separate 3D printed elements to the Lululemon SoHo flagship store.