A hidden gem of Baltimore is brightening up classic shoes
By Emily Hahn
November 17, 2021
Image Credit: Courtesy of Leila Bensarghin
Image Credit: Courtesy of Leila Bensarghin
Lei Lab Crystals specializes in individually hand-set Swarovski crystal sneaker customizations and sculptures. The small business, which is based in Baltimore, is owned and created by Leila Bensarghin. The 23-year-old crystal artist grew up in Howard County, and is currently working towards her bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship at Towson University. Bensarghin started the business in 2019, the same year she started at Towson, although the first pair of shoes she customized was back in 2014. The shoes were her own, a pair of black Nike Roshes, that she wore for more than three years. She said that even after wearing this pair multiple times a week for years, not a single crystal has fallen off. The idea of hand-setting crystals onto sneakers started as a hobby. The beginning of Bensarghin’s journey, as she created the brand, was spent making customized shoes as a craft while she was recovering from surgery and other health problems, according to the Lei Labs website.
“I actually started and made my first sale, February 2019 from, like, my hospital bed, and so that was the official start. And I've since healed, which is wonderful, but the business has grown ever since,” said Bensarghin.
“It wasn't until 2018 when I found myself struggling with further health issues that I decided to make another pair as a way to cope and distract myself,” states the website.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Leila Bensarghin
Since then, Bensarghin has been able to make Lei Lab Crystals her full-time job. Bensarghin purchases the AF1s she customizes directly from Nike at full retail price. She said she has sold about 650 pairs and hand-set around three quarters of a million crystals to date. “A lot of my recent projects over the past year have required a lot more crystals, so I've been able to get that number up pretty quick. My goal is to hit a million by the end of this calendar year,” said Bensarghin.
Louisiana State University junior kinesiology and biology double major Aysia Phillips purchased a pair of customized shoes to represent her LSU pride at football games and other events. She said that after multiple designs were proposed by Bensarghin, Phillips decided on tiger stripes around a yellow and purple Nike symbol.“I thought everything was very professional, even down to ... when she was making the drawings and stuff for the shoes,” Phillips said.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Leila Bensarghin
Image Credit: Courtesy of Leila Bensarghin
Phillip’s mother and owner of AAA Recruitment Services Jill Fininzio got a pair of LSU themed customized sneakers too. Fininzio said, “she customizes each shoe and she puts her heart into it and she takes her time with it,” and also said that the company is very unique and creative. Lei Labs has sold shoes to influencers, adult film stars, beauty gurus and musicians. Bensarghin said she has customized shoes for Tay Money, Baby Coco, MJFre$h, Makeup Shayla and Slobby Robby.
Bensarghin said the highest priced pair of sneakers sold by Lei Labs Crystals was $1,200. Sculptures are in the $1,500-2,000 range. The company is currently closed for commissions for the rest of 2021, said Bensarghin. She said that next year commission pieces will be prioritized. *Disclaimer: The Campus Trainer does not receive proceeds from any brands we profile. * Check out more LeiLabs creations on their website and use CAMPUSTRAINER for 15% off your order!
Image Credit: Courtesy of Leila Bensarghin
Image Credit: Courtesy of Leila BensarghinCustomized shoes made for rapper Tay Money.