Matter & Space: Internship Testimonial
Internship week is a great opportunity for students to take some time off of school and get some industry experience! While some students were working as dressers for fashion week, others worked in showrooms and boutiques. BFA 2026 students Kate Swartz and Lorena Gama both had the exciting opportunity to work as Boutique Assistants at Matter and Shape which is powered by WSN.
Matter and Shape is a new design salon that takes place in the heart of Paris in the Jardin des Tuileries. It was first revealed in March of 2024 and just had its second event this year. The salon invites exhibitors of all sizes to present diverse projects and product ranges in celebration of today’s global design industry.
Matter and Shape prides themselves over their relationship with creatives from all fields ranging from interior designers and architects to journalists and collectors who share the stage for an audience from the worlds of design, luxury and fashion.
What were their roles?
The students working spent lots of time learning about the products being sold and the designers involved. It was very important for them to get an understanding of the physical pieces to better engage with customers. Additionally, both Kate and Lorena identified having spent a lot of time exploring stock management and inventory. This really taught them about the inner workings of a retail business and how much has to go on behind the scenes for events like these to run smoothly.
Apart from this they also spent time curating displays and ensuring they were maintained as the day went on along with having numerous dialogues with clients!
“I enjoyed working during the fast paced environment that was Paris Fashion Week and getting to speak with interesting exhibitors from around the world. We were also able to attend artist talks during our work period, where we were able to learn about the artist/ exhibitor and their work being showcased. I also loved working with an amazing group of girls who supported each other throughout the whole internship week as it made for great teamwork and bonding.” – Lorena Gama