What!? You Can Make Your Own Pair of Shoes in Noco?

Are you a shoe or fashion fanatic? Are you creative and enjoy custom-made clothes? If so, Colorado Shoe School is a great weekend activity! Established in 2018 and just a 15-minute drive from Fort Collins, Colorado Shoe School helps you “make your own shoes, with your own hands, from your own imagination.” All skill levels are welcome to attend workshops that can last from 1 day making sneakers to 5 days making custom boots.

Colorado Shoe School also has a great story and a meaningful mission. According to the source, Annabel Reader and Dan Huling are the owners and operators of the business. They are both incredibly interesting people: Dan is the co-founder of a live performance and events company and Annabel was formerly a professional dancer and split performer. While visiting New Zealand together, they found a listing for a shoe school and they instantly knew that they wanted to pursue a career in the field of shoe-making.

Today, Colorado Shoe School advocates for upcycling and recycling by using “leather destined for the waste stream” in the creation of their shoes. According to Annabel, “You can use recycled anything to make shoes that are fashionable and that you want to wear,” and you are encouraged to bring in your own used materials like an old leather jacket or even plastic bags. The creation experience is new every time and completely dependent upon what style you feel like showing off around Fort Collins.

The business was temporarily closed due to the pandemic, but recently reopened with smaller class sizes and private workshops available. Go support local business while making an awesome new pair of shoes for yourself!