Olivia Luciani is an artist. Shoes are her canvas.

“I’ve got to be close to 1,000 [pairs]," Luciani said.

The East Syracuse Minoa product is working on a Christmas gift.

“They’re gifting it to their martial arts instructor that they’ve had for over 30 years,” Luciani said. “I like the black and white I think of karate with the belts.”

Customizing shoes is tedious.

“From start to finish I’d say about 12 hours," Luciani said.

It’s 12 hours for one pair, but it’s worth it.

“I just love seeing the customer's face afterwards,” Luciani said. “That’s just the best thing. I do a lot of stuff for people who have passed away, so it’s so special to bring something to life for them that they can keep and cherish in memory.”

Luciani, a former Buffalo State basketball guard, started her business, Laced by Liv, in 2013.

“I’ve always had a huge passion for sneakers," Luciani said. "I took that leap of faith and haven’t turned back."

Athletes have taken notice. She’s designed shoes for big names like Breanna Stewart, Eric Devendorf and Natasha Howard.

"That’s huge. That’s the best feeling especially when they do something cool in them like hit a game-winner or something,” Luciani said. “That’s the best feeling ever, it’s like, maybe it’s the shoes.”

She took her biz a step further in 2020.

"These are my DIY kits they come with everything you need to make your own pair of shoes,” Luciani said. “I decided to do these during the pandemic when everybody was at home and I said this is a great idea, people are looking for things to do, their kids are cooped up at home.”

She’s brought her kits back for the holidays and has already sold out twice.

“With customizing it’s your own creative process,” Luciani said. “Your own imagination. A lot of people get them for their grandkids and stuff for gifts and everyone says they loved it.”

Whether she’s making kits, or airbrushing kicks, she’s changing the game.