Timeless Tartans captures and honors the unique purpose of organizations and those affiliated with them. We do so by creating distinctive patterns using our patented algorithm that combines the defining characteristics of each organization including the time/place it was founded with primary colors that represent it.  Each pattern is further enhanced with secondary colors meant to reflect the organization’s collective heart, mind, and spirit. The resulting pattern is used in our subtle, sophisticated fashion brand that allows you to wear your school spirit in any type of professional or social setting. 

Code of Conduct

Alma Matters is committed to the following General and Labor standards and selects only those Suppliers which are committed to do the same:

Legal Compliance: We must comply with all applicable legal requirements of the country(ies) of manufacture in conducting business related to or involving the production or sale of our Products whether licensed or unlicensed. Where there are differences or conflicts with the Code and the laws of the country(ies) of manufacture, the higher standard shall prevail, subject to the following considerations. In countries where law or practice conflicts with these labor standards, We agree to consult with governmental, human rights, labor and business organizations and to take effective actions to achieve the maximum possible compliance with each of these standards. We further agree to refrain from any actions that would diminish the protections of these labor standards.

We are also committed to the following Labor Standards: 

1. Wages and Benefits: We recognize that wages are essential to meeting employees' basic needs. We shall pay employees, as a floor, at least the minimum wage required by local law or the local prevailing wage, whichever is higher, and shall provide legally mandated benefits.
2. Overtime Compensation: In addition to their compensation for regular hours of work, hourly and/or quotabased wage employees shall be compensated for overtime hours at such a premium rate as is legally required in the country of manufacture or, in those countries where such laws do not exist, at a rate at least equal to their regular hourly compensation rate.
3. Working Hours: Except in extraordinary business circumstances, hourly and/or quota-based wage employees shall (i) not be required to work more than the lesser of (a) 48 hours per week and 12 hours overtime or (b) the limits on regular and overtime hours allowed by the law of the country of manufacture or, where the laws of such country do not limit the hours of work, the regular work week in such country plus 12 hours overtime; and (ii) be entitled to at least one day off in every seven day period.
4. Child Labor: We shall not employ any person at an age younger than 15 (or 14, where, consistent with International Labor Organization practices for developing countries, the law of the country of manufacture allows such exception). Where the age for completing compulsory education is higher than the standard for the minimum age of employment stated above, the higher age for completing compulsory education shall apply to this section. We agree to consult with governmental, human rights and nongovernmental organizations, and to take reasonable steps to minimize the negative impact on children released from employment as a result of implementation or enforcement of the Code.
5. Forced Labor: There shall not be any use of forced prison labor, indentured labor, bonded labor or other forced labor.
6. Health and Safety: We shall provide a safe and healthy working environment to prevent accidents and injury to health arising out of, linked with, or occurring in the course of work or as a result of the operation of our facilities.
7. Nondiscrimination: No person shall be subject to any discrimination in employment, including hiring, salary, benefits, advancement, discipline, termination or retirement, on the basis of gender, race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, political opinion, or social or ethnic origin.
8. Harassment or Abuse: Every employee shall be treated with dignity and respect. No employee shall be subject to any physical, sexual, psychological or verbal harassment or abuse. We will not use or tolerate any form of corporal punishment.
9. Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining: We shall recognize and respect the right of employees to freedom of association and collective bargaining. 

 

Social Responsibility Statement

The purpose of Alma Matters, Inc. is simple; to capture and honor the unique purpose of organizations and those affiliated with them. We do so by creating distinctive patterns using our patented algorithm that combines unique characteristics of the organization including the time/place it was founded with primary colors that distinctly represent the organization. Each pattern is further enhanced with secondary colors meant to reflect the organization’s collective heart, mind, and spirit. The result is a subtle, sophisticated fashion brand called Timeless Tartans. 

Our corporate name - Alma Matters - is derived from the Latin word “alma” which means nourishing care. In this sense, we are concerned with “matters” that help sustain deep affiliations that people have with organizations that matter most to them. Organizations, like individuals, are created at a unique time and place in history by a group of people who share a common purpose. At Alma Matters, we believe that one’s purpose can be found by evaluating the intersection of the: Heart (i.e. the things we are passionate about), Mind (i.e. the things we know) and Spirit (i.e. the values that motivate us to act).  

We believe that Alma Matters’ purpose will thrive in the marketplace of both products and ideas by building responsible relationships with our:

• Customers, whose passion we hope to earn,
• Suppliers and Employees, whose knowledge we value and depend upon, and 
• Products, which embody our values and the organizations they represent.

Alma Matters’ purpose may be timeless, but the relationships required to sustain our purpose are dynamic. For this reason, these relationships must be actively monitored and managed to ensure that they continue to support our purpose as Timeless Tartans grows into a nationally recognized brand. 

Alma Matters takes its responsibility seriously as our continued survival is dependent on maintaining licenses with some of the most trusted organizations/institutions in the United States. As a small business, Alma Matters relies upon every Employee and Supplier to be aware of, and committed to, our responsibilities to our Customers and the Products we produce for them. With limited resources, we depend upon objective criteria to select Employees who understand and are committed to adhering to the values we use to design and produce our products. This Employee/Supplier framework relies less on formal audit structures and more on the personal commitments of every Employee and small group of like-minded Suppliers, most of which are also small businesses. 

Developing a socially responsible Employee/Supplier network begins with complying with our Code of Conduct and legal requirements in every country(ies) in which we employ people; we require the same of our Suppliers in their respective country(ies). We are bound to this legal compliance through the License Agreements that we sign with our Licensors; we require the same compliance of our Suppliers who are required to sign Authorized Manufacturing Agreements (AMA) before we engage them to produce products for us.