How Angus mum created unique kids dungaree business during naptime

Like many parents, Becky McNicol found dressing her toddler a struggle.

Tight waistbands and restrictive materials were making getting ready in the morning a battle of wills.

So, the Angus mum set about handcrafting a pair of comfy dungarees from an old pair of jeans.

Her quirky design caught the eye of friends and – to her surprise – orders started to fly in.

Two years on, the 34-year-old from Letham has made hundreds of dungarees for buyers across the UK and beyond.

Initially, people found out about The Jean Genie by word of mouth but Becky now has almost 6,000 followers on Instagram and her limited-edition “drops” sell out within 10 minutes.

Not only do they look stylish, the mother-of-two’s wares also score top marks for sustainability.

According to the United Nations, it takes around 7,000 litres of water to make one new pair of jeans and each pair of The Jean Genie dungarees prevents a pair of adult jeans being sent to landfill.

Becky sources vintage Levi’s from a range of sellers and uses her spare room for sewing.

She admits the success of her one-woman brand came as a shock and has meant fitting in sewing during naptime and after her children have gone to bed.

But she takes great pride in knowing her designs are loved by so many families.

Former Webster’s High School pupil Becky said: “When my son was a toddler he really didn’t like the feeling of waistbands and I found if I sized up, his trousers would just fall down.

“I’m not a professional seamstress, I’m self-taught, but thought I would have a go at making him some comfortable dungarees.

“I’m a huge fan of the television show, The Great British Sewing Bee, and almost made it the finals when I was pregnant but had to turn it down because I had morning sickness.

“I drafted the pattern and went for it and they turned out really well. Friends started asking for a pair and it just grew from there.”

Becky continued:

“It’s just me so I have to be realistic about how many pairs I can make, but last year I had 200 sales.

“I’ve already surpassed 250 sales this year before the Christmas rush and I’m really proud of how the business is growing.

“My biggest flex is the numbers of returning customers I get.

“They come back to get the next size up and love how hard-wearing and versatile the dungarees are.”

Becky’s dungarees are designed with interchangeable straps and she sells a wide range of colourways on her website.

The £55 dungarees, which come as shorts and full-length, start at size 6-12 months and go up to age 4-5.

Becky added: “Now that my kids are both at nursery I have more time to grow the business and I would like to get to the point that I am booked out.

“But I am keen to stay a small family operation so I can ensure the quality of all of my products.”

This article appeared in the Courier on 1 October 2026