Erica Paul and Courtney Newman met while they were working as designers for a mass-market sportswear manufacturer. They both moved on to pursue their dreams of becoming lingerie designers. After years of hard work in this field, they realized that they were dissatisfied with the product they were told to create while toiling for Corporate America. While drinking wine at a burlesque show, the pair discussed the type of lingerie they longed to create. The voluptuous performers inspired their idea to make a line of lingerie that would fulfill the needs of curvaceous women. Ms. Paul and Ms. Newman both lamented the lack of proper sizes in most stores. All bras either had too much padding or looked too matronly. The ladies decided that it was time to take matters into their own hands and create a line of lingerie that fit beautifully, was comfortable to wear everyday, and, most importantly, brought back burlesque glamour.
The duo decided that they had to write a business plan, and they signed up for a class at their alma mater, the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. After a year spent researching their market, perfecting their skills as expert fitters, learning the art of burlesque, and saving their hard-earned money, they finally created the first prototypes for their line. Their tassels were twirling! They used these samples to conduct focus groups and fittings, so they could be sure that their product met their clients’ needs. Finally, the founding Dirty Dolls were ready to set off on their quest to fit all women with exquisite lingerie, and to educate them in the art of the tease!
