The Johns Hopkin University - The John Hopkins News-Letter BY Justin Li - November 11, 2010
Hopkins' Barnes & Noble bookstore now offers apparel from Alta Gracia, an industry-leading apparel manufacturer that pays workers 340% above minimum wage and provides benefits.
"We were involved with Knights Apparel a couple years ago," Karen DiScala, Manager of Corporate Communications for Barnes & Noble College, said. "They have a wonderful product and we hope to be there for the long run."
Barnes & Noble Johns Hopkins, however, has not made Alta Gracia its sole provider.
"Barnes & Noble added Alta Gracia as an vendor to our existing vendor list. There will continue to be other apparel options at the bookstore," Rebecca Lafleur, General Manager of Barnes & Noble Johns Hopkins, wrote in an email to The News-Letter.
Although this may raise concerns that Barnes & Noble endorses lesser labor standards than Alta Gracia does, it does not.
"We require all vendors to adhere to the Fair Labor Associations Code of Conduct," DiScala said. "[The addition of] Alta Gracia was a natural extension of those ideals."
The Fair Labor Associations Code of Conduct includes paragraphs for the respectful and dignified treatment of employees, paragraphs for the health and safety of the working environment, and many other humanitarian ideals.
While the cost of its wages are much higher compared to other manufacturers, fears of similarly scaled prices for their product may be unwarranted.
"Alta Gracia clothing will sell for the same price as other major brands and is of at least equal quality," a Barnes and Noble press release stated.
"Our intention is to keep prices equivalent as possible [to other brands]," DiScala said.
Barnes & Noble has expressed its excitement over this new addition.
"We are very proud to be a part of this endeavor and to offer our students another opportunity to purchase high-quality merchandise that was manufactured with a high regard for workers rights," LaFleur said in a press release. Read Full Story Here
