BUSINESS is booming at a handmade dress store after its dresses walked the red carpet.

Kay Lavender, 55, owns Lavande Designer Wear, a handmade dress store specialising in weddings and proms.

The independent shop, which sits at the bottom of Malpas Road, was approached by Cardiff-based actress Abbie Hirst just three days before the Welsh Baftas.

Ms Lavender took on the challenge and created a long red gown for the actress to wear.

“I couldn’t turn it down. Three days is such short notice but I thought it was a fantastic opportunity,” she said.

Clients normally have around six meetings with Ms Lavender, who prides herself on making one-of-a-kind dresses.

“It’s great to have this exposure now - I’ve been making dresses since I was 17,” she added.

“One lady got the train from London to Cardiff every time we had an appointment. It just shows you don’t need to be in Chelsea [London] to people to come to you.

“Not one client has left my store unhappy - I just wouldn't let them.”

The designer wouldn’t say if she had any more high-profile projects in the pipeline.