Special guest Laure du Pavillon (left) with 2011 French Exchange recipients (from left) Drew Williams, Peter Nguyen, Peter Yang and Lisa Relth at May's Spring Fashion Show. (Photo credit: Randy Brooke)

Yesterday, we caught up with some of our designers who were recipients of our Sister City Scholarship Exchange in Paris in 2010. Today, the 2011 recipients are just about ready to take off to the City of Lights.

Fashion School Daily caught up with Lisa Relth, Peter Yang, Drew Williams, and Peter Nguyen before they make the big move.

Have you been to Paris before?

Lisa Relth: I have been to Paris twice.

Peter Yang: I have never been to Paris before but I hear it’s the place to be.

Drew Williams: I have been once, my senior year of high school.  I was there for a short time but I loved the city so much!  I cried when I had to leave — I’d never experienced a place that just exudes beauty.  I’m very excited to go back.

Peter Nguyen: This will be my first time in Paris.

When do you leave?

Lisa Relth: I’ll be leaving straight from New York in early September.

Peter Yang: I plan to leave at the end of August.

Drew Williams: I will be leaving for the school year in August.  It’s possible that I will go before then for a short while to find a place but that hasn’t been set yet.

Peter Nguyen: I am planning on leaving the last week of August.

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Rinat, Alice, Ronnie and Ashon: recipients of last year's Sister City Scholarship Exchange in Paris

It’s always good to hear from some of our alums.

That said, Fashion School Daily caught up with Rinat Brodach, Alice Spies, Ashon Sylvester, and Ronnie Nery ( last year’s Sister City Scholarship Exchange in Paris, France) to see how they are doing in Paris and if they had any advice for the next group . They have a lot to share (including pictures!).

How is Paris?

Rinat Brodach: Paris is GREAT. Beautiful city. The French are a bit difficult here…snobby.

Alice Spies: Paris is great now that it is warm. Everyone is so much happier on the streets!

Ashon Sylvester: Paris is nice
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Ronnie Nery: Was (and is) amazing. I truly love being in Europe.

What is your favorite thing about being there?

Rinat Brodach: The best things about Paris: Food, hot men, and the bars are open past 2am.

Alice Spies: My favorite thing about Paris is the people watching. Just sitting at a cafe or lying in the park and enjoying all the people around.

Ronnie Nery: I’m from the projects in NYC, so for me coming from the projects to Paris itself was a culture shock like none other. I think meeting so many different people and truly embracing other cultures has been mind-blowing — as well as all the fashion experiences as well. Getting to walk in the Vivienne Westwood show was just something I will always remember. Sneaking into so many other shows or just making my way into them was such a crazy experience — as well as getting to be in front and second row seats at some of the couture shows (shout out to Gladys for those tickets). Seing a lot of the garments up-close was very inspiring.

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Last week, Gladys Perint Palmer was joined by faculty, consuls general, and representatives from the San Francisco-Bangalore Sister City Initiative to extend a warm welcome to the School of Fashion’s exchange students. We hope you do the same. Look for their individual profiles on Fashion School Daily in the coming weeks.

2010 visiting exchange students: Charlotte Berthaud and Sophie Bouquillard (L’Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale / Paris, France); Justine Nagouas and Niccolo Giannini (Studio Berçot / Paris, France); Soumya Nandivada and Sumit Gill (National Institute of Fashion Technology / Bangalore, India); Ye “Andie” Ji and Luka Mues (Massey University / Wellington, New Zealand)

Back row from left: Luka, Niccolo, Justine, Charlotte; front row from left: Soumya, Andie, Sophie, Sumit

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