What Is DOTTI?

 

DOTTI exists because of friendship.

Not as a marketing slogan.

Not as a branding exercise.

Literally.

Before DOTTI was a store, before there was a website, before there was a logo, there was Danny.

Fun fact: the photo above was entirely Danny's doing on a random night back in 2015 at 2am, in front of his apartment's pool. I LOVED every second of that photoshoot. The outfit was his, the faux fur was his, the chain was his, the styling was his, the photo was his, and I'm pretty sure he spent more time editing it than I spent posing for it. 

Looking back, nights like that were completely normal for us.

And somewhere between all those ridiculous adventures, Danny ended up doing something much bigger.

He saved my life.

Years ago, I was struggling with depression in a way that's difficult to explain unless you've been there yourself. I wasn't sad. I wasn't crying all the time. I was beyond that. I was exhausted. Numb. Existing felt heavier than disappearing.

Then Danny walked into my life.

He had this ridiculous ability to find joy in everything. He had sparkles in his eyes, warmth in his heart, and absolutely no interest in letting me stay trapped inside my own head.

We spent almost every day together in college.

We drove an hour at midnight just to wander around Walmart in costumes.

We sat on mountaintops talking nonsense and giggling about each other's ridiculous thoughts and imaginations for hours until we got distracted by whatever was happening in the parking lot below.

We watched drag performances together.

He styled me as if I were his own personal drag project. 

He did my makeup.

He picked my outfits.

I picked heels tall enough to make me six foot three. 

Together, we accidentally convinced a surprising number of people that I was a drag queen.

And honestly, we both loved every drag project we did together. 

it wasn't really about becoming someone else. It was about becoming the version of myself that wasn't afraid to take up space. Even just for a night.

He taught me confidence before I even realized that's what he was doing.

He encouraged me to try things, wear things, say yes to things, and occasionally make questionable decisions that somehow became great stories.

Through Danny, I saw a version of the world that was brighter, kinder, and more inclusive than I had ever imagined.

And because our lives were so connected, I also became part of his shopping adventures.

Or disasters.

Mostly disasters.

Whenever Danny wanted to buy something a little edgier, whether it was men's lingerie, harnesses, accessories, or statement pieces, ordering online felt like gambling.

The product photos looked incredible.

The item that arrived looked... different.

Sometimes the fabric was completely wrong.

Sometimes there were random words printed across a waistband.

Sometimes sizing information barely existed.

Sometimes products arrived looking absolutely nothing like their photos.

And because returns weren't always easy, we'd eventually end up throwing away bags of disappointing purchases whenever one of us moved.

What always bothered me wasn't that the market was niche.

It was that being niche seemed to be used as an excuse for lower standards.

Meanwhile, I could shop for women's lingerie almost anywhere.

The fabric was listed.

The measurements were listed.

The details were shown clearly.

I generally knew what I was buying before I clicked checkout.

Danny deserved the same experience.

Everyone does.

That frustration became the foundation of Dotti.

Before launching the store, I ordered hundreds of samples from countless suppliers.

Some products looked identical in photos.

When they arrived, they were completely different.

Different fabrics.

Different construction.

Different quality.

Different fit.

Even now, after choosing suppliers, I still bother them constantly.

What fabric is this exactly?

What's the actual measurement?

How much stretch does it have?

What's the composition?

What's the weight?

Can you verify this?

Can you measure it again?

Because customers deserve to know what they're buying.

That's especially true for intimate products.

Even though Dotti currently focuses on apparel and accessories, I've always believed that products should meet real standards.

If something is stainless steel, what grade is it? Is it 304 or 316 or 316L?

If something is silicone or rubber, is it body-safe? 

Can the manufacturer actually verify the materials they're using?

Those details matter.

A lot.

But Dotti isn't only about quality control.

It's also about purpose.

Every piece in the store needs to earn its place.

Some pieces exist to make you feel confident.

Some exist to make you feel comfortable.

Some exist to make you feel sexy.

Some exist simply because they make you smile.

Most of all, I love products that can live multiple lives.

Maybe it's a soft base layer that feels great under a shirt at work.

Maybe it's a statement piece hidden beneath an everyday outfit.

Maybe it's something you wear to Pride.

Maybe it's something you wear to a party.

Maybe it's something that stays on when everything else comes off.

The best pieces don't force you to become someone else.

They help you become more of yourself.

That's what I'm interested in.

Not costumes.

Not characters.

Not pretending.

Just helping people feel like themselves, only more confident.

More comfortable.

More expressive.

More free.

The name DOTTI comes from "Friend of Dorothy."

It's an old phrase with a complicated history, one that helped LGBTQ+ people find community during a time when being themselves was far more dangerous than it is today.

The world has changed since then.

Thankfully.

But acceptance still isn't universal.

And confidence is still something many people have to fight for.

I chose the name because friendship changed my life.

Danny changed my life.

And because I believe everyone deserves people who make them feel seen, supported, celebrated, and safe being exactly who they are.

That's what DOTTI is.

Not just products.

Not just clothing.

Not just a store.

Dotti exists because friendship.

Today, our tagline is:

A Friend of Yours.

Because that's what I want this brand to be.

Supportive.

Welcoming.

A little ridiculous sometimes.

Dotti started because of one friendship.

But it was never meant for just two people.

It's for anyone who wants to feel comfortable, confident, expressive, and unapologetically themselves.

That's why DOTTI exists.

And everything we build starts there.

If we're doing our job right, every package we send out carries a little piece of that spirit with it.

Welcome to DOTTI.

A friend of yours.

P.S. Danny is still responsible for at least 90% of my best outfits and photoshoots. If you are reading this Danny, thank you and I love you, as always. 

New to men's lingerie? Read our Beginner's Guide to Men's Lingerie.