Paris internship adds new thread to fashion journey

Studying fashion in Paris, the global fashion capital, sounds like a fantasy for students who want to work in the industry. For Anthony Guzman, who has been running his own clothing brand since 2020, studying abroad made it a dream come true.

Guzman was attending a four-year college until he took a break from classes prior to enrolling at College of Lake County (CLC). School was something he’d always wanted to finish, and after moving to Gurnee, CLC was the right spot to pick back up.

Studying abroad caught Guzman’s attention. And when he found out he could get financial aid and scholarships, he decided to take a chance and apply.

Along with programs offered through CLC, students can pursue long- and short-term study abroad opportunities, paid internships and volunteer experiences through the Illinois Consortium for International Studies and Programs or Council for International Educational Exchange (CIEE). Through CIEE, Guzman found an internship in the fashion industry in Paris.

“Paris is the fashion capital of the world,” Guzman said. “It was definitely a different environment than what I am used to, with a lot of different styles in public that you don’t see in America.”

Looking for financial assistance, Guzman applied for the Gilman Scholarship. The scholarship, provided by the U.S. Department of State, pays up to 100% of study abroad costs for Pell Grant-eligible students. CLC has a Gilman Scholarship advisor on campus to assist students with the essay writing portion. Four CLC students have earned the scholarship since 2022.

“Only about 3,000 students in the country are awarded this scholarship every year,” said Director of Global Engagement Voytek Wloch. “It’s the ultimate scholarship for study abroad.”

Guzman was in Paris from May to July with a group of 25 students from other colleges and universities. He worked as a marketing intern for Beyond Form, a fashion tech innovation platform for startup founders, fashion brands, education and manufacturers.

In this position, Guzman was on the inside of the fashion industry, marketing for the brand with social media posts and creating blog posts. He also oversaw production for a podcast highlighting under-represented entrepreneurs.

Approaching study abroad with an open mind is key to having a good experience, Guzman said, especially if you’ve never left the country before.

“At home, I like to get things done early to have free time later in the day,” he explained. "In France, nothing was really open before 10 a.m. and things weren’t open late."

Guzman discovered new ways to spend his days because of these changes. He used free time to go to parks, enjoying the environment of picnicking, reading and chatting. He also visited the Eiffel Tower often.

Language was never a barrier. Guzman learned a little French before leaving, but found that being in France was the best way to learn.

“Experiencing life on your own in a different country makes you grow a lot as a person,” Guzman added). “You really value the time you have there. I would encourage anyone to do it. It’s the best way to learn a different culture and get another perspective.”

Guzman graduated from CLC in May 2025 with an associate in arts degree and transferred to Arizona State University, where he is double majoring in apparel technical design and fashion design. He taught himself to create clothing but going to school will help him learn refined technical skills to improve his work.