The Red and Black

Issue date: 7/7/08 Section: Variety

Media Credit: JIM DIFFLY Victoria's Secret has a new PINK collegiate collection with UGA logos. The line became available in Georgia Square Mall on July 1. [Click to enlarge]

Now University women can wear their favorite clothes from Victoria's Secret while showing school spirit.

Victoria's Secret PINK has unveiled a new line with logo tees, zip hoodies and tote bags, along with other apparel featuring 33 universities in an effort to establish itself as a brand for college women.

The new line was available online June 20 and debuted in stores July 1.

"I like that their pink dog is with the bulldog, girls will love it and I think it will be a hit," Jeff Shannon, a junior from Roswell, said.

Alan Thomas, the University's associate athletic director for external operations, said The Collegiate Licensing Company contacted the University in the early spring of 2008.

He and other staff review possible licenses and decided to approve this line because the apparel was not associated with lingerie.

"If we thought it was lingerie, it would not be considered," Thomas said.

Although Thomas had heard concerns from several schools, he said the University was already producing similar lounge apparel and saw no issue with the collaboration.

Thomas said the University profits 10 percent from the wholesale cost of licensed products. The Athletic Association shares the profits with the University through the Arch Foundation.

However, not all schools want to participate in the new venture.

One of the featured schools - the University of Minnesota - no longer wants to participate in Victoria's Secret PINK Collegiate Collection because of the company's image and marketing towards women, according to the campus newspaper, the Minnesota Daily.

Some students expressed concern about the University's willingness to participate in the collection.

"I'm not particularly thrilled about it," Kelly Nielson, a senior from Statesboro, said. "I don't see why a corporation needs to deal with a school. I want my school to deal with my education, not its propaganda."

Victoria's Secret PINK has a vested interest in the college demographic and last year held a PINK My Pad by redesigning a dorm at the University of Maryland.

The UGA line is available throughout the state at the following locations: Gwinnett Place, Lenox Square, Colonial Mall Macon, Georgia Square, Cumberland, Southlake, Peachtree, Albany, Avenue at Peachtree City, Mall At Stonecrest, Forum on Peachtree Parkway, Avenue at Webb Ginn, Avenue at West Cobb, River Crossing and Mt. Berry.

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