Today we’d like to introduce you to Vinny Belmont.
Hi Vinny, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Uff that’s a big question. I started this whole shoe business venture when I was pretty unhappy at my old corporate job, and I really wanted some sort of creative outlet. Something that was for me that I could build and pour my heart into. It was originally just supposed to be a hobby but as I posted the shoes, I was making on my Instagram I noticed pretty quick that people were digging what I was doing.
So, I decided to keep going and eventually I found a whole community of other custom shoe designers that helped me polish my skills and taught me all sorts of cool ways to elevate my brand. If you would have asked me 2 years ago if people would pay me any mind as I make my crystal shoes on Instagram, I would have said no way. But here I am. I’ve sold over 150 pairs already and have some really loyal returning customers that help keep my little dream alive.
Everything continues to trend upward so I’m hoping my business will soon be something that can give me the freedom and lifestyle I’d like to have while being my own boss. It’s been a wild ride either way so I’m very lucky I’ve made it this far. And if it weren’t so tough to make it in this day and age, I’d probably be bored so I welcome the challenge.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not, haha. I am much more a creative person than I am a businessman so wearing all of the hats one has to wear to succeed as an entrepreneur has been hard as hell. I drop the ball sometimes trying to be efficient in managing all aspects of the business but woof, there’s a lot more to it than just making the shoes. Marketing yourself. Photographing and video editing everything. Managing all your social media channels. Advertising. Accounting. Businesses licenses, permits, and taxes. It’s endless.
But at the end of the day, I really love what I do so I keep working to figure out ways to get better at where I lack in running The Stoned Aesthetic.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m definitely known for designing custom sneakers in general, but my specialty is my work with crystal. I like to mix streetwear with glam so I usually have a pair of Air Force Ones or Jordan’s custom painted and covered in tens of thousands of the best crystals money can buy.
They’re very flashy and definitely only for the bold and that’s what I love about them. I myself am not the loudest individual in my fashion sense but I like designing for people who are.
What are your plans for the future?
I would love to get to the point where I am able to hire a teammate or two and not only grow my business but to help put food on other people’s tables. I think it would be so cool to be able to help someone else thrive alongside you and to have that sense of camaraderie that I don’t have working solo trying to get this thing off the ground. I like team dynamics and always worked really well with whoever was at my side in previous jobs.
So yeah, if I could help someone rise up with me and make this business even bigger that would be so rewarding on a lot of levels.
Pricing:
- My customs start at $350 and go up to a max of about $3,000 for a fully covered-crystal shoe
Contact Info:
- Website: TheStonedAesthetic.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/thestonedaesthetic?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Image Credits
@ChigaImaging
