Tucked away in the farm town of Bellvue, a duo of circus performers hunkers over a table scattered with bright fabrics, foam models and vintage machines.
Hailing from New Zealand, Annabel Reader has a colorful background that includes playing an Orc in “The Lord of the Rings,” sewing costumes for Cirque du Soleil and performing worldwide as a stilt walker. Her husband, Dan Huling, has used his degree in sculpture and printmaking from Colorado State University to design Vaudeville props in addition to performing as a juggler, unicyclist and comedian. After moving in the same circles for years, they met while performing at the same corporate Christmas party: Reader had been hired as a stilt walker, and Huling was performing a solo paddleball act.
Today, the couple combines their creative talents as independent contractors—they just designed costumes for a Las Vegas production of “The Nutcracker”—but their pride and joy is a small business they built together: Colorado Shoe School.
Photo by Aaron LaVanchy
A place for creativity
The idea for their business came in 2017 when, on a trip to see Reader’s family in New Zealand, they came across a shoe school advertisement and decided to sign up. They’d been casually building a home workshop in hopes of leaving their performance roles behind, but they were unsure what to do next. The experience provided the inspiration they’d been looking for. Back in Colorado, they had a clear vision: not to sell shoes, but to share their creativity by helping others make their own.
Colorado Shoe School opened its doors in 2018 and is the only one of its kind in the state. A four-foot-high metal boot atop a rusted flatbed marks the entrance to the property, where a wrought-iron gate leads to a Vaudeville-inspired vintage camper, abstract metal art and a stairway to the second-story workshop.
Around a large table, guests learn the nearly forgotten art of shoemaking in a variety of workshops. A one-day class offers a taste of the process, where they craft a pair of Converse-style shoes. After they select their colors and choose between high- and low-top styles, Reader and Huling guide them through cutting, gluing and sewing their creations.
The two-day workshop allows for more stylizing—adding what Reader calls a “vibe” through stripes or shapes. The three- to five-day workshops are available for participants with a specific, custom goal in mind. The couple has even helped people turn an antique suitcase into a pair of boots and a letterman’s jacket into sandals. Beyond shoes, they’ve helped guests tackle projects like custom gloves, journal covers and roller skates.
They don’t sacrifice comfort for style. In fact, many people send them thank-you cards, calling the shoes the most comfortable pair they’ve ever owned. But there’s more to them than comfort.
The couple purchases sustainable materials whenever possible. Soles for the one-day workshop are made from crushed tennis balls, balloons and rice husks, and much of their leather is rescued as leftover stock from the fashion industry or thrift stores.
“Upcycling and recycling are a big part of our business,” Reader says. “We try to do good for the world where we can.”
To add to the good vibes, each maker writes a handwritten message between the padding and sole of the shoe.
“We like to say the message brings good luck,” Huling says. “I wrote ‘I heart Annabel’ in the first pair of shoes I ever made, and we ended up getting married. Another client wrote about a job she hoped to get, and she got it. It’s a special added touch.”
Photo by Aaron LaVanchy
These shoes were made for walking
Boulder-based custom bicycle designer Lennard Zinn took part in a two-day shoe school workshop at his daughter’s request in 2023. She wanted the family to make shoes to dance in at her wedding, but Zinn’s shoes were destined for far more than the dance floor.
“Everyone was focused on making their shoes ornamental,” he says. “But I have very hard feet to fit. Every time I get shoes, I have to take them back. So I said, ‘If I’m going to make myself shoes, I’m going to make them the best-fitting shoes I’ve ever had.’”
Reader and Huling guided Zinn through the process of heating the soles and reshaping them for a perfect fit.
They were so comfortable that he started wearing them to walk his dog every day. By the wedding day, he’d already sent them back for a resole. Zinn kept wearing the shoes regularly, sending them back whenever they needed a refresh. Last fall, he put them to the ultimate test.
Since the ninth century, pilgrims have journeyed along the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, where St. James is said to rest. When Zinn decided to tackle the Camino, he knew he’d do it in his handmade shoes.
“I figured as long as I’m going to do this bucket-list walk that people train their whole lives for, I’m going to do it in the shoes that fit me best,” he says. “It’s common on the Camino for people to get blisters and foot pain—that’s what often derails them. I was committed to avoiding that.”
The shoes, with their thick leather tops and low soles that mimic walking barefoot, delivered: Zinn walked more than 150 miles blister- and pain-free.
“There’s so much pride in telling people who compliment my shoes—on or off the trail—that I made them myself,” he says. “People really can’t believe it. As long as Annabel’s willing to keep giving me new soles when I wear them out, I’ll keep wearing them for a long time to come.”
Horse & Dragon Brewing Company crew making shoes together.
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The Finer Details
Colorado Shoe School’s pricing ranges from $250 for a one-day sneaker or sandal workshop to $1,290 for a five-day workshop where guests can make a fashion shoe, boot or custom item. The school also offers half-day fanny pack classes for $190 and two-hour journal cover workshops for $80.
Their clients include both locals and out-of-towners, from couples and families to work groups looking for a team-building experience.
“Families of all ages come in, and none have ever done this before,” Reader says. “It’s so rare to find something where the adults are learning right alongside the kids.”
Most workshops accommodate up to six people, and children ages 15 and up can attend with an adult.
“One father told us during a family workshop that he’d never seen his daughter smile so big,” Reader says.
Reader and Huling say the workshops spark creativity and bring joy—not just for participants but for them as well.
“Sharing and inviting people into a new way of looking at their shoes, while keeping that performing element that we love, there’s really nothing we’d rather be doing,” Reader says. “When we talk about the future, shoe school will always be a part of it.”
