Alta Gracia, No Sweat: Pitt Coalition Against Sweatshops

 
Her Campus Pitt has recently joined in support of Alta Gracia, a coalition spearheaded by the Pitt Chapter of Americans for Informed Democracy, that is aiming to change the global apparel industry and stop the abuses of sweatshops.

“Specifically, we are petitioning for The Pitt Shop to carry Alta Garcia Apparel. Alta Gracia is a groundbreaking factory and a new business model that sets a social responsibility standard above all other brands in the collegiate market by paying a ‘living wage’.”- Pitt Coalition Against Sweat Shops

That shirt you and all your sorority sisters are wearing… Do you know how it was made or where it came from? The truth is in the busy grind of our day-to-day chaotic schedules,  details like this seem to slip through the cracks as unimportant. Or maybe it does cross your mind and if so, go you! However, the extra time and money that it would take from you to research, compare prices, and convince others to pay what might end up being a little more… Well, I probably lost you back at “extra time and money.”

Step in Pitt Coalition Against Sweatshops! A group who is committed to putting in the time and raising the money to make it a lot easier for us all to do what we would all prefer to do anyway: purchase clothes made at factories who pay their workers fair wages.

Shelby Pasell told me in a simple explanation, “Basically, Alta Gracia pays fair wages, supports the workers’ unions, and has good working conditions. The brand is already on over 400 campuses, and prices are comparable.” Awesome! So, what’s then next step? How can we get it at Pitt?!

Get your student organizations to join their coaltion! Right now they just need some support which literally requires bare minimum efforts from us. Talk to your organization and email Shelby (sap71@pitt.edu) to tell her you’re in!

She’ll add you to a list that is growing by the week and already includes:
Americans for Informed Democracy
STAND
LiNK
Campus Women’s Organization
Heroiks
FeelGood
The Original
E-Cycle
Open Books
Her Campus Pitt
 
Check out the Youtube Video that explains Alta Gracia here!
‘Like’ their FB page here No Sweat: Pitt Coalition Against Sweatshops and tell your friends to do the same! This way you can be in the loop about the progress their making, as well as upcoming events on campus.

If you want one of these amazing shirts designed by TJ Collanto, email aidemocracypitt@gmail.com“