FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ Tired of searching for that perfect pair of shoes only to go home empty-handed? At Morgan Miller, a new store at Aventura Mall in southern Florida, you can design your own custom-fit sandals, then cruise the mall or sip champagne as cobblers build your creation. About an hour later, the shoes you thought never existed _ violet python-skin, Swarovski crystal-studded stilettos with black accents, for example _ are actually served on a silver platter. Experts say discerning, hard-to-fit shoe addicts like customer Mercedes Mendez, 30, of Miami Shores, Fla., are fueling a trend in customized shoes. “I always loved shoes, always,” Mendez said. (At last count, this fashionista had more than 250 pairs.) Mendez revels in the fact that at Morgan Miller she can choose from an array of soles, straps and embellishments to fashion a pair that costs between $99 and $350. In just a few months, Mendez has designed six pair of Morgan Miller shoes _ the neutral navy, funky orange, the wild zebra print and more. Budding boutique operators such as Morgan Miller as well as athletic footwear giant Nike and fashion label Steve Madden are blazing a trail by giving customers the power to design, said Marshall Cohen, chief industry analyst for The NPD Group. Consumers love to play designer and come out with a unique product that reflects their personality, said Cohen. “Customized and personalized products are becoming one of the most important trends in the fashion industry today.” Some customers become loyal word-of-mouth advertisers for retailers who offer customization. Mendez has spent more money at Morgan Miller than she cares to think about, but she’s hooked and telling her friends about the store. Her passion isn’t driven by fashion alone. Before Morgan Miller, she had to take shoes to a cobbler to have them adjusted because her right foot is wider than the left. The store’s founder, Morgan Miller, a 25-year-old Miami designer, kicked off her shoe business in South Beach, Fla., in 2006 and has wooed celebrities such as actress Gabrielle Union. She recently traded an off-the-beaten-path boutique for the Aventura Mall location. Miller said shoppers sometimes spend hours sorting through design possibilities. Store associates help customers with selections, starting with the sole, then straps and accessories. Next, the customer is fitted by the in-house cobbler. The shoes are finished while the customer waits, Miller said, noting they can pass the time sipping champagne. The store hosts shoe parties for customers who want to share the experience. In the end, customers walk away with both “instant gratification” and “bragging rights,” Miller said. Miller’s inspiration came from her own shoe fetish, which started at age 6. While vacationing on the Italian island of Capri, she landed her first pair of custom-made shoes: delicate leather ballet flats with straps that tied up the ankle. Growing up she traveled to Europe for fashion events with her father, Gary, who worked in the luxury apparel business, and started collecting brands like Prada and Dolce & Gabbana. Now customers worldwide can find Morgan Miller online at morganmillershoes.com, order shoes and have them delivered the next day. At Nikeid.com and SteveMadden.com shoppers have to wait weeks to get their shoes, but prices are in line with off-the-rack designs. That’s helped to make customization more affordable for the masses. Retailers who can invest in the personalized option and jump manufacturing hurdles will attract young adults and shoe lovers who crave something unique, said John Shanley, footwear and athletic analyst for Susquehanna International Group. But he and others note that those are challenges most retailers can’t get past today. With help from her family, Miller plans to open more stores in southern Florida as well as in New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. International franchises will follow, she says, noting efforts are under way for a Dubai store. “It’s eventually going to be a lifestyle brand,” Miller said, adding her vision extends to customized sunglasses and cosmetics. Already, customers at the Aventura store can design handbags and belts, though delivery takes a few weeks. Miller says she’s encouraged by feedback from customers like Mendez, who is frequently complimented on her Morgan Miller shoes. “I get excited when someone notices them,” Mendez said. “I almost forget I have them on, because I wear them all the time.”