Sarabande Foundation Is Your Post-Graduation Guide To Employment

The Sarabande Foundation ensures its core values of quantifiable mentorship and scholarship to support visionary talents that founder Lee Alexander McQueen prioritised, continue to manifest each year since he established the foundation eighteen years ago. This year, Sarabande has put their mission on the move with a touring remix of their career fair programme caravan called What Now?; the series of talks that provides a conduit for arts and fashion industry professionals to support recent graduates went to New York in May. Next week, the must-visit for burgeoning talents returns to London for its fourth year.

Over two full days, What Now? offers graduates an opportunity to start their early stages in fashion and creative industries using the career fair model with steps taken to help increase employability. Opportunities in fashion like What Now?, are a unique moment to improve understanding the nuances of a complex industry from a creative context.

Professionals from companies including Alexander McQueen, Craig Green (a Sarabande alumnus), Burberry, Christies, Dazed Media and Nike will be available for one-to-one insights geared to help students and graduates sort out creative logistics around work goals. Human Resources and mentoring specialists from Draw Recruitment and Creative Mentor Network will be on site for additional angles on how work, works.

Talks themed on portfolio development and post-graduate panic, led by mentors from Tom Ford and consultant Jeii Hong respectively, firm up the concept with real-life examples of a rapidly changing industry. Recent graduates such as the upcycling maverick Matthew Needham from Central Saint Martins and knitwear designer Ellis Jaz from Royal College of Art will share their industry experiences once their studies ended.

‘The working worlds of fashion and art are in precarious places right now,’ Sarabande Director Trino Verkade explaions. ‘What Now? is here to give frank and helpful advice to any graduates wanting to pursue careers in either industry and show them some options. The event is growing year on year, as the demand for straightforward guidance and mentoring increases.’

What Now? will take place on 11 - 12 June, 2024 at Sarabande Foundation, 22 Hertford Road, London N1 5SH.

Book your spot here.

11 & 12 June - 11:00-16:00: Drop-in workstations

11 June - 19.30 – 20.45: Portfolio Development Masterclass with Stephanie Finnan from Creative Search and design director Jack Isenberg.

12 June - 19:30 - 20:45: Dealing with Post-Graduate Panic, Jeii Hong with Ellis Jaz, Xenab Lone and Matthew Needham.