A fashion student at Coleg Sir Gâr's West Wales School of the Arts has been offered employment with Vivienne Westwood, one of the most famous fashion designers in Britain.

Jayne Pierson from Llanelli is in the third year of a degree honours fashion course at the college's art and design school in Carmarthen and has spent more than four months on a work placement at the fashion house in London.

During the placement she was responsible for updating and adapting existing patterns from the Vivienne Westwood archive.

She was also asked to trace and correct existing patterns before sending them for commercial production and cut patterns that would be made into couture garments for private couture clients.

Jayne also visited couture clients at their home and in the first two weeks, assisted in fitting a number of celebrities including actress Kim Cattrall, singer Shirley Bassey and the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker-Bowles.

Jayne said, "When I first entered the building, I saw a huge Westwood globe and I realised, as if I was in any doubt, that this was the start of a very memorable journey."

"When she walked in, I felt quite overwhelmed as she is such an icon.

"She has an amazing aura, is quietly and articulately spoken and is extremely nice."

After initially working with the head pattern cutter, a former Saville Row tailor, Jayne was asked to cut a number of costly gowns from a variety of very expensive fabrics for private clients.

Jayne said, "It's essential to ensure that the fabric is not wasted and the lay plan is perfect. Vivienne's clever use of grain-lines makes for some unexpected folds, so you have to be on your toes."

On the fourth day of her work placement, Jayne was asked to personally assist Vivienne Westwood draping a corset bust section, enabling an accurate interpretation of the way the garment is folded, pinned and transferred into a pattern.

"I felt a little ridiculous at first, me being a second year fashion student when she is a veritable icon," said Jayne.

During her experience, Jayne was asked to take part in a number of tasks, including painting print designs onto garments, collating research, hand sewing and finishing couture garments and assisting with fittings and styling at the Spring/Summer 2009 Paris show.

Jayne was offered part-time work while she finishes her final year in college as well as a full-time position as a design assistant when she graduates next July.

Now see how Jayne got on working for world-famous designer Alexander Mcqueen.