Meet the Maker: Sana from Laila Luxury Puzzles

Welcome to our Meet the Maker series, where we chat with the artists and creators behind the puzzles in your Borrowed Piece subscription boxes. Today we're honoured to introduce Sana, the founder of Laila Luxury Puzzles, a US-based brand that's doing something genuinely new in the puzzle world, and one we're especially proud to bring to Australian puzzlers.

Laila Luxury Puzzles was born during one of the hardest seasons of Sana's life. When her husband was diagnosed with cancer, puzzling became her way of staying grounded, but she could never find a puzzle that truly spoke to her. So she built one. Or rather, she built an entire company around a simple but powerful idea: that Muslim artists deserve a place in the puzzle space. Working with artists like Rawda Salah, Ola El-Metwally, and Farah Sharif, Sana has created collections that are vibrant, detail-rich, and unlike anything else in the market. From the launch collection's bold florals to the stunning Ramadan 2026 series.

We're thrilled to have these puzzles in our library, and even more thrilled to share the story behind them.

What was your "aha!" moment that made you think "I need to be in the puzzle business"?

I never thought I would be a product-based business owner! Last year, my husband was diagnosed with a very progressed phase of cancer, which resulted in me spending lots of time alongside him while he was in treatment. During this time, I puzzled a lot. It became my favorite hobby to stay grounded, but I could never find "the perfect puzzle." I was searching for a puzzle that, for lack of better words, "spoke to me." That is when the idea came to me to create my own puzzles. As I thought more and more about the idea, I began to envision a puzzle company that reflects the artwork of artists that are very underrepresented in the puzzle space: Muslim artists. The rest is history!

From your early days to now, what's been the biggest plot twist in your company's journey?

Starting this company was really a healing journey for me. I always thought in my mind, "there is not failure in this inititive" because building someone meaningful from a difficult place in my life was the greatest win I could have asked for. When I realized that the puzzle company was so well received after the launch, it felt like I was waking up from a haze. I realized that I had created something that could truely be meaningful to more people than just myself.

When you're hunting for the perfect puzzle image or theme, what makes you go "That's the one!"?

I am a huge fan of vibrant colors and lots of detail. While this may not be the most sophisticated system, I am often inspired by a single image or color palette, which will guide the creation of an entire collection.

What's your puzzle's signature energy? Like, what makes people instantly know it's one of yours?

I think the packaging for sure screams Laila Luxury Puzzles! I've also gotten lots of comments about the "velvety pieces."

What's the hottest puzzle trend you're seeing right now that has you excited (or scratching your head)?

I may not be answering this question correctly but one thing that certainly has me paying close attention are trends in drops and releases. I am excited to learn about what people want and when they want it! An alternative answer would be puzzles that have a good "puzzle pull" meaning, when you lift the completed puzzle, the pieces stay in place!

Do you actually get to puzzle in your downtime, or is it all work and no play? And if so, what's your go-to when you need a puzzle fix?

I love this question. Sometimes I feel like when I purchase puzzles from other companies now, I am "betraying" my own brand. But the reality is that I am in a space with SO many talented puzzle brand owners. I recently had the pleasure of indulging a gorgeous puzzle from Once Upon a Puzzle and I am excited to get my hands on a Puzzle Weekend puzzle soon!

Want to experience the joy of Laila Luxury Puzzles yourself? The full collection are featured in our Borrowed Piece subscription boxes, bringing that perfect combination of artistry and puzzle joy right to your door.

Ready to start your puzzle rental journey? Discover why thousands of puzzlers across Australia are choosing The Borrowed Piece for their puzzle adventures.

Have a favorite puzzle maker you'd love us to feature in our Meet the Maker series? We'd love to hear from you!