WHEN Rebecca McKay became a new mum she was looking for a baby sling to make life a little easier.

But after failing to find the perfect product she created one herself – and has since gone on to launch a business making fashionable baby carriers.

Now the Elland mum has joined forces with Milnsbridge company Tag Togs Ltd to ensure it’s a truly home-grown product.

And despite being weeks away from giving birth to her third child, Rebecca’s baby carrier designs are in such demand she’s packing around 17 a day to be sent to new mums.

Rebecca, of Elland, has two daughters with husband Andrew – Annabel, four, and Delilah, two. They are expecting a third in eight weeks.

She started the baby carrier and dribble bibs business Sa-Be Baby Wear in 2008, but materials came from one part of the country and it was sent to another to be dyed and then elsewhere to be manufactured.

But a chance meeting with Milnsbridge Tag Togs businesswoman Amanda Cross at a Huddersfield mums and toddlers group led to a new direction.

As Rebecca was wearing her design with daughter Delilah, textile worker Amanda asked where she got it from as she wanted one for her baby boy Theo.

It was from there a joint venture was launched and Rebecca found a local manufacturer for her products.

Rebecca said: “There were a few baby carrier wraps but I didn’t feel comfortable in them, so I created a tube one which looks like a top and it feels more secure without being wrapped in loads of fabric.”

The Sa-Be baby carriers and dribble bibs come in over 80 designs and the carriers are made from 5m long fabric which is wrapped in a tubular fashion to give support, rather than replying on stitching. They’re made to look like fashionable tops.

“People see me putting Delilah in my T-shirt and ask what I’m doing,” Rebecca added.

“My sister had a baby at the same time as me and we were both being asked where we got them from, word of mouth has helped massively.”

Prior to starting the business Rebecca worked at a Huddersfield garden centre and sought advice from the Business Link before setting up her own company.

And it’s a family business – brother Dan Huby designed the website, Pete Huby helped with the marketing and sister Sarah McGlynn assisted with the manufacturing.

“I’m delighted that I’m able to help boost the economy of Huddersfield by using a local company to manufacture baby carriers and dribble bibs,” she added. “I strongly believe in supporting the local economy and investing in our area’s future.

“Teaming up with Rebecca from Sa-Be Baby Wear gave me the confidence to start my own company,” Amanda Cross added. “Now I have my own business premises and a member of staff.”

In addition to the contract with Sa-Be Baby Wear, Tag Togs, based at Holme Mills Industrial Park in Milnsbridge, also manufacturers pillows and mattress protectors.

For more information about Sa-Be Baby Wear visit www.SaBeBabyWear.com .