A PASSION for fashion featuring something different than the usual teddies, giraffes and lions for little ones was the spur for an alternative fashion business which has got a Dragon's approval.

Ann McGee, otherwise known as Scavenger Annie, set up her business from her Rylands Drive home, when she struggled to find clothes for son Jack in his style.

And she has just won an award from Dragon's Den Star Theo Paphitis who runs his own Small Business Sunday on Twitter.

The 30-year-old said: "I began my embroidery business when my son was born and I found that the clothes out there were just not alternative or ‘rocky’ enough for my little man. Friends and family started asking for custom embroidered threads and it just grew from there.

"Facebook had just come out and I thought I would open up a page. I was one of the first to use the site as a selling site.

"When I started out I was just going back to work at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester after maternity leave then last October I was made redundant and I thought I would put my heart and soul into it."

From then she decided to expand her Etsy store scavengerannie.etsy.com which is filled with handmade gifts, clothes and accessories inspired by rock, goth, kawaii and steampunk influences.

And Ann set up a sewing school to pass on her skills which she learnt from her mum when she was young.

" I make sure each of my classes have a unique twist to them, be it making a voodoo doll pin cushion or alternative bunting with rockin’ skulls on. Having my business and creations recognised by Theo is so exciting and has given me a great confidence boost in taking my business to the next level," added Ann.

Ann got the recognition from Theo on Twitter when he tweeted last week that Scavenger Annie was one of his winners - tweeting a link to Ann's website to his 400,000 followers.

Ann juggles her business with being mum to three-year-old Jack. She’s found that the flexibility of being self-employed fits in around family life and offers a way to continue to explore her creativity.

“I often work at night whilst he sleeps or from the dining table during the day whilst keeping an eye on the little man," said Ann. " As he’s grown older he now likes to get involved with the stitching, picking out thread colours for me. His eagerness to have a go on my sewing machine has led to me getting him his own purple sewing machine. It looks like I might have to change the business name to Scavenger & Son soon.”

You can find out more about Annie, her alternative embroidery and her sewing classes at scavengerannie.co.uk.