Connect
Stories
-
Dan Horkey 45
Port Orchard (Seattle), WA Afghanistan
Global Tattoo Orthotic Prosthetic Innovations (GTOPI), has seen a growing customer base. His service applies high-quality artwork to braces and prosthetics using a similar process to custom car painting. The result is a beautiful design of the client’s choosing, including custom work.
Horkey’s idea came from his own experience. An amputee for more than 20 years after a motorcycle accident, Horkey is a trained orthotic and prosthetic technician. About four years ago, he decided to personalize his prosthetic, so he created his own socket and applied art to it. Last year, he decided to turn his idea into a business.
“When I put the piece of art on my socket, I stood tall, and my self-esteem was higher,” he said. “I felt more confident, and I received compliments when I wore shorts in public… I want to help others booster their self-esteem — help them be themselves and open up.”
Horkey’s goal was to reach out to American veterans, and in the past months he reached that goal. He has provided his service to veterans through the Veterans Administration, and recently his product was accepted by a contractor at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
“When they accepted my product, I feel I’ve received the seal of quality,” he said. “I’ve reached my goal in seven months to serve American vets. I’m very proud to be serving our veterans in a small way.”
The tattoo process is individualized to each customer, who can either choose a design on the original carbon-braded socket, or go with a background color instead. Horkey has various design choices and also offers custom work. The designs are hand-painted or airbrushed - similar to those used for custom paint jobs for hot rods and motorcycles.
“There’s never been anything like this before,” Horkey said. “We’re creating a piece of art.”
