Sarabande Foundation, the organization established by Lee Alexander McQueen, is set to bring its ‘What Now?’ event back to New York City this May. 

Taking place on Tuesday, May 6, at The Standard, East Village, What Now? serves as a bridge between education and the professional world, equipping attendees with the tools and industry insights needed to launch successful careers. 

The free event welcomes students, recent graduates, and self-taught creatives, providing them with one-on-one mentoring, portfolio reviews, and a post-event digital ‘Aid Pack’ filled with guidance for navigating the creative industries.

“A huge void exists between the safety of college and the reality of the working world. Particularly in fashion, the preconception and often misconception is that upon graduating your dream job awaits,” said Trino Verkade, director of Sarabande.

“The reality is quite different. But excitingly, on the flip side, the industry is so diverse and so rich in its need. There are numerous alternative models to navigating the industry other than ‘I graduated from fashion design and set up my own label’. What Now? helps people identify that their skillset is much broader than their degree.”

Last year’s event drew hundreds of eager graduates who lined up around the block to meet with 90 industry professionals from 23 globally renowned brands, including Christian Dior Couture, Fendi, Hermès, Khaite, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Thom Browne, Tiffany & Co., and Art & Commerce.

“I know what I’m looking for in a graduate, and all the brands taking part in What Now? also know what they want. This event provides an incredible opportunity for our next generation of creatives to have direct access to industry leaders from an exceptional group of brands,” added Francesca Amfitheatrof, president of The American Friends of Sarabande and artistic director watches and jewellery, Louis Vuitton.

“Our objective for this event is to advise and educate students on how to put their best foot forward in their career trajectory. Our industry is global, and events like this show graduates not just what’s possible for them, but how to thrive.”

People wishing to book their place should register via Eventbrite.

J.Jill Inc. announced on Wednesday that sales for the year ended February 1 increased just 0.5% to $610.9 million, hindered by a decline in fourth-quarter sales at the U.S. fashion retailer. 

The Quincy, Massachusetts-based company said annual comparable sales, which includes comparable store and direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales, increased by 1.5%, with D2C sales, which represented 47.5% of net sales, up 1.9%.

Likewise, fiscal 2024 net income grew to $39.5 million, compared to $36.2 million in the prior-year period.

The firm’s annual sales were, however, held back by a ​4.9% decline in fourth-quarter sales to $142.8 million, hit but a 6.8% drop in D2C sales, though total comps were up 1.9% for the three months.

“Fiscal 2024 performance is a testament to our disciplined operating model as we delivered on our objectives while strengthening our balance sheet, implementing robust total shareholder return strategies and investing in new store growth and systems,” said ​​Claire Spofford, president and chief executive officer of J.Jill, Inc.

“Although this year was not without challenges as we continued to navigate a dynamic macro environment, I am proud of all that the team has accomplished enabling us to continue to drive strong cash generation supporting the recent increase of the quarterly dividend and ongoing investment in growth strategies and capital priorities. As we enter fiscal 2025, despite the uncertain outlook near-term with the slow start to Q1 and continued price sensitivity from customers, I am confident in the team’s ability to continue to operate with discipline while positioning the brand for long-term success.”

Looking ahead, J.Jill said it expects fiscal 2025 sales to be up 1% to 3%, compared to fiscal 2024, with plans to open 5-10 stores in the 12-month period.