Beyonce designer's award

When Kal Kaur Rai first ventured into fashion she was too nervous to even mention it to her parents - both thriving business people with their own supermarket.

But today, the London designer - whose clients include Victoria Beckham, Cat Deeley and Beyoncé - is reaping the rewards of her ambition after being named Young Achiever of the Year.

The 34-year-old was awarded the accolade at last night's Asian Business Awards, a prestigious annual event that honours entrepreneurial talent.

But, in the beginning, she didn't know how her parents would react to her chosen career. "I did a university management degree and I was concerned they would say that they had not paid for my education to waste it on clothes," says Kal, who runs her own shop just off Oxford Circus. "They would have expected me to go into a more established business career, or so I thought.

"But after I had taken out a £20,000 loan and told them, they were very supportive and they said they believed in me. I was

so happy."

And who wouldn't be delighted to have turned a lifelong hobby into a money-spinning business courted by the pop industry's most glamorous female stars?

"I pinch myself sometimes," she admits. "What I do is my hobby - and I get paid for it.

"Ever since childhood, I would design patterns and draw clothes and soon I was making one-offs for friends.

"It was only when somebody who worked in a boutique saw my clothes that she said she wanted to have a some of them in her shop.

"She took them on a sale-or-return basis and I was amazed when they sold out and none were returned."

It was while working for an advertising agency, eight years ago, that she began her own womenswear label - a venture born out of frustration that

she and her friends were unable to find the kind of luxurious items they wanted to wear at top industry events.

After quitting advertising, Kal soon saw the orders coming in thick and fast and Topshop in Oxford Street offered her her first concession.

"It's one of the best selling new labels at Topshop - it's literally flying off the rails," says a spokeswoman for the high-street chain.

Kal has also seen her collections, aimed at young women aged 18 to 30, go in-store at House of Fraser at Oxford Circus, Birmingham and Sheffield.

The young businesswoman, who hails originally from Huddersfield, has now taken on three staff, supplies more than 70 retailers and last year had a turnover of more than £400,000.

Her starry clientele has also included Alicia Keys, Danni Minogue, Geri Halliwell, Lisa Snowdon, Mariah Carey, Tamzin Outhwaite and Melanie Sykes.

She received her award at a banquet organised by Asian newspaper Eastern Eye at The Hilton Hotel, Park Lane. The ceremony was hosted by broadcaster Martin Bashir and attended by Prince Michael of Kent.

Kal's success illustrates how Asian women are changing the demographics of British business. The new wealth survey, Britain's Richest Asians, published by Eastern Eye features 17 women in the top 200 this year whose combined fortunes are worth an estimated £387.9 million.