Portugal had always been there in the background.
But like most people starting something new, I first looked close to home. Familiar felt easier. Simpler. Logical, even.
What I didn’t yet understand was the role gatekeepers play in every industry.
Everything happens for a reason, and that includes gatekeepers. Every misstep was all part of the journey.
Because at the end of the day, what’s past is prologue.
Every conversation.
Every meeting.
Every lesson.
Every moment of wondering whether this idea could actually become something real brought me to the door of Portugal, where I was welcomed with open arms and good wine.
Surrounded by artisans who understood creation not simply as business, but as the delicate act of bringing a vision to life.
These were creators. People who understood fabric, construction, movement, and detail. People who had spent decades creating women’s intimate wear and refining their craft.
And for the first time, I felt as though I could finally exhale.
I had finally found people who understood exactly what I was trying to bring to life.
More importantly, they understood me.
Not only the product itself, but the emotion behind it.
There was honesty there too. A quiet confidence. If something didn’t work, they would say so. If something could be improved, they would guide it forward.
Because the process itself became filled with excitement, curiosity, and creativity.
Not performance.
Not empty promises.
A genuine desire to build something beautiful together.
The first thing I truly needed was fabric.
Not simply fabric that functioned, but fabric that felt luxurious against the skin. Fabric that transformed an everyday garment into something sensual, elegant, and confident.
And that search led me to Cotex - Lace Legacy.
A family business woven together through decades of craftsmanship, loyalty, and tradition. The kind of place where, once they welcome you through the door, you are treated like family. They celebrate your victories, carry your disappointments, and stand beside your vision because they share it with you.
I reached out.
They responded with warmth, curiosity, and excitement for what I was trying to create.
More importantly, they understood exactly what kind of manufacturing partner I would need, and through them I was introduced to Marel Industries — another company with decades of experience creating women’s intimate apparel and swimwear.
And somewhere between Cotex, Marel, and myself, the magic began to happen.
It swirled around us.
Possibilities became real.
Ideas found form.
We weren’t simply creating a product. We were creating something we all believed in.
Like a family gathered around a table sharing good wine, good food, stories, successes, and failures, we poured ourselves into the creative process together.
Through passion, craftsmanship, imagination, and trust, something slowly began to emerge and take form.
She was sensual. She was confident and entirely unique. There was no one else like her. There never would be.
I had always known her name. I had known it from the very beginning. I knew one day I would hold her in my hands and finally say her name out loud,
Dorothy ❤️
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