'Dungaree' came from 17th century India, where a local coarse cloth, Dungri, was used to make robust work clothing. It's thought to have been named after Dongari Kapar, a harbourside village near Mumbai. 

Image source: Getty/ Frédéric Soltan

The name soon changed to Dungarees when it was exported to the UK and was used for manufacturing cheap, robust work clothes.

It wasn’t until the mid-1800s that the bib with shoulder straps and trousers were joined to create overalls. They soon became a popular choice amongst the working class, from miners to farmers, as the fabric was strong and tough enough to provide a protective layer whilst carrying out manual labour.

Image source: The US National Archives

During the First World War, many women volunteered to fulfil the roles that were normally carried out by men, to help keep the economy running.

The women soon adopted the same overall uniform, and during the Second World War, in 1943, the iconic “We Can Do It” poster was created to boost and inspire female working morale.

Image source: J. Howard Miller's "We Can Do It!"