What happens when you take the classroom to the heart of the global fashion capital? For a group of our Global Impact Diploma students, it meant stepping out of the traditional school setting and into the professional world.
Our students recently returned from an immersive internship experience in Milan, Italy. Here is a look back at their incredible three-day journey into the world of high fashion and professional industry standards.
Day 1: Culture, Language, and City Lights
The journey began with a seamless arrival in a sunny, warm Milan. After connecting with fellow students from Bucharest, the group dove straight into the local culture.
Linguistic Leap
They kicked off the trip with a basic Italian language course, mastering everyday expressions to navigate the city with confidence.
Architectural Inspiration
A walking tour took the group through the iconic Piazza Duomo and the breathtaking Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, where they learned about the deep-rooted historical ties between Milanese architecture and the fashion industry.
Local Flavor
No first day in Italy is complete without authentic pizza and a celebratory gelato!
Day 2: The Business of Style and AI Innovation
The second day shifted focus toward the "brain" of the fashion industry—combining heritage with cutting-edge technology.
Archival Curation
Students attended a professional panel on sustainability and the business of managing fashion archives.
The Styling Challenge
Putting theory into practice, students conducted research to style looks for celebrities that expressed specific cultural identities.
Future Tech at IIFM
At the Istituto Italiano of Fashion Management, the group participated in an AI Visual Storytelling Lab. They explored the ethics of digital creation and presented group concepts that blended historical research with AI-generated styling ideas.
Day 3: The Main Event – Backstage at the Westin Palace
The final day was the pinnacle of the trip: a full-access, hands-on internship during a live fashion show at The Westin Palace Milan. It was a true deep dive into the logistics of a high-pressure production. Our students rotated through vital roles, including:
- Garment Prep: Assisting with steaming and styling.
- Model Coordination: Managing timing and backstage flow.
- Front-of-House: Handling PR guest seating and logistics.
Meanwhile, they were also practicing the strict etiquette, confidentiality, and standards expected in the global fashion industry.
More Than Just Fashion
While the students returned home tired from the hard work, they also came back with a new sense of professional identity. This trip was designed to show them the vast array of career paths available—from design and production to business operations and PR.
We are incredibly proud of how our students represented AISB, demonstrating teamwork, critical thinking, and a tireless work ethic that the Global Impact Diploma seeks to cultivate.
Welcome home, fashionistas!