Thanks to Wes Card ’70, CEO and Director of The Jones Group Inc., the URI women’s rowing team was decked out in style last month at events surrounding England’s historic Henley Regatta. Not only did he make it possible that their outfits, designed by URI students, were produced by Jones New York, he hosted a springtime New York fashion show at the company’s headquarters showcasing the top student designers in URI’s Textiles, Fashion Merchandising, and Design program.
A leader in the NYC fashion world, Card has worked with The Jones Group Inc. since 1990, and has been instrumental in the success and growth of the company into a fashion and footwear industry giant. Under Card’s leadership, Jones has built a reputation for excellence in product quality and value. The company’s roster includes an impressive list of nationally recognized brands—from Jones New York and Anne Klein to Nine West and Stuart Weitzman.
An active URI alumnus through the years, Card has demonstrated his dedication to his alma mater over and over. “It is up to us as alumni to look out for our URI family,” he says. “I think we would all look back on our college experience and say it’s where we got started. It provided a foundation for our life.”