AS the world mourns the loss of Dame Vivienne Westwood, memories of the time the fashion icon collaborated with Kidderminster's Brintons Carpets are being shared.

Back in 1993, Brintons launched their first advertising campaign, for which Vivienne Westwood designed a series of "iconic" carpet dresses.

Later in the decade, she collaborated with the carpet manufacturer for another campaign, inspired by dress styles back when the company was founded in 1783.

Former Shuttle editor Clive Joyce remembers the time he was invited by Brintons to a glitzy campaign launch event in London in the mid-90s.

He said: “She had an entourage of bodyguards who I think kept her movements quite tight on the night, so people couldn’t get too close to her.

“I do seem to recall getting a few words with her. She was like royalty at this event".

Mr Joyce said the dresses themselves have "gone down in fashion history".

“It must have been difficult because the materials she was using were very heavy," he added.

“I was hoping that they would bring some of the dresses to Kidderminster and we could have an exhibition in the town.

"It was a real coup for Brintons".

One social media user described the carpet dress designs as "stunning."

Another described Dame Westwood as an "innovator" and said: "I’ll never forget this genius campaign for Brintons Carpets. 

Another social media user said: "This was one of the weirdest and most fun advertising campaigns I've ever seen".

The pioneering fashion designer made a name for herself on the fashion scene in the 1970s, with her androgynous designs, slogan t-shirts and irreverent attitude towards the establishment.

Dame Vivienne died on Thursday (December 29) “peacefully, and surrounded by her family in Clapham, south London,” her representatives said.

Dame Vivienne, who was born in Cheshire in 1941, is largely accepted as being responsible for bringing punk and new-wave fashion into the mainstream with her eccentric creations.