Seeking Inspirato with Margot Binetti of CuCu Leather in Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Margot Binetti of CuCu Leather in Steamboat Springs, Colorado
A Little Town Called Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Down off Main Street in a ranching-turned-ski town called Steamboat Springs, Colorado, lies a colorful, eclectic, throw-back-of-a-shop named CuCu Leather.
I passed by it one evening and pressed my face to the glass to see brightly colored sheets of leather quilting the back walls. There was machinery that looked like it was out of a WWII era factory—turns out some are as old as 1924!
The store’s merchandise is equally as colorful and fun as the boss lady herself, Margot Binetti, CuCu Leather’s owner.
Saddlery work, repairs, and resoles are Margot’s bread and butter—a service the ranching folks of Steamboat still rely on. Saddles, chaps, and boots are used daily in the ranching industry. They get worn and need mending.
Thankfully for Steamboat, Margot is the perfect leather smith for the job.
Margot’s customers range from those that are “all hat and no cattle” (that’s me) to the real-deal ranchers who are “all cattle and hat to match.”
“Steamboat is very much a cowtown before it is a ski town, and that’s why we brought custom to Steamboat.”
Photos from the Winter Carnival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado in February of 2020 taken by Maddison McKinley.
Steamboat may have coined the phrase “Ski Town USA,” but the town is still a ranching community at heart. Just look at their Winter Carnival line-up! Alongside ski jumps, they feature horse-dominated activities.
“A wildly entertaining show featuring children on skis and snowboards being pulled behind horses along snow-covered Lincoln Avenue. Races include street slalom, skijoring, ring and spear, donkey jump and the famous adult shovel race.”
Steamboat’s Summer rodeo is the Met Gala of Colorado Ranching style. (Unfortunately, I missed the rodeo this year!)
They’re Worth the Wait
“In our world, the equipment is very hard to find [these days] … this is a really old machine, it’s over 100 years old … we’re bringing the old back in.”
Margot has a distinct machine for all-things-leather, and when one breaks, she’s the one to fix it. There’s no “order another on Amazon” mentality at the CuCu shop ... It’s not feasible for business.
Many of her machines help her create her favorite form of leather goods: boots.
“Boots are my main love. I’m first off educated in more of the saddlery side, and then [I] transitioned over to the boot-making side a few years ago … it’s something I’m super passionate about.”
Margot signs every pair of custom boots she creates (above).
Her work is the epitome of “slow fashion,” the idea that one, or a few people, are going to work with high-quality materials to create the best goods possible.
While slow fashion is more expensive, you get what you pay for. You won’t see your custom boot duplicated in the wild, and it’s created to fit you and only you, perfectly.
This is why Margot’s trade speaks to me. There’s no machine that can create custom leather boots in 24 hours and 2-day ship them to you. She specializes in a craft that hasn’t yet been automated (and likely won’t be) because it’s so niche and artisan.
This is an image of a custom-made last (each one has a client’s name on it!) that Margot molds to her clients’ feet. The boots are made custom to each buyer’s foot, which includes discussing any foot-related injuries they’ve had that she can design around.
Some clients know exactly what leather and design they’re going for, while others trust Margot with the design.
These Boots Were Made for Ranchin’
“It’s a walking art form, so it’s functional art. That's what’s really fun for us. It’s not just something you're going to put on your foot and go ride a horse on. It’s something that you’re going to express yourself through, too, and that’s why we’re here.”
Oftentimes the best pieces are those made custom for us. A custom engagement ring, a custom suit jacket, or a custom painting speaks to our Dynamic Personal Style. Custom means *no one else has it*... What’s more exciting than that?
Commissioning a pair of custom boots is an investment piece that you can cherish for the rest of your life.
A pair of cowboy boots is like a string of pearls. You shine them, keep them in good shape, and they say something about you.
Even a basic cowboy boot has customizable attributes that send a message. Do you go with a rounded toe, leather punch design or smooth finish, roper or high top, dusty, manures, or clean?
How to Achieve the Boho Southwestern Look, from a Boho Southwestern Woman
Margot is functional and casual but likes to accessorize. Boho Western is meant to be eclectic and showcases a collection of pieces over a lifetime.
“I like quality clothes I can get a good deal on. I’m all about thrift shopping, but our boot base price is $3,000 … so I put the money into the accessories.”
This isn’t to say that she doesn't love Double D fit, but that she is saying that you can wear turquoise every day for the rest of your life, and it’s never going to go out of style, so it’s worth investing in! Ask any 80-year-young woman in Sedona, Arizona.
Notice the plurality of accessories. Why wear one necklace when you could layer three?
What’s Coco Chanel thinking, “take one thing off when you leave the house”?!
Margot spurns the Coco mentality and goes with the CuCu one:
“I say, add something when you leave the house ... It’s loud, but we’re loud … People are scared of throwing patterns together, but I say ‘throw them together anyway.’”
Margot is very much a “put together, see what you create, and decide if you like it” kind of person, which involves putting a bunch of pieces out on a bed (or in her case, a turquoise-colored throne) and creating a look. I like this approach :) It’s not a science; it’s additive construction of wearable art.
Boots
Did you know?
You can work directly with Margot to design a pair of boots!
“We can work with anyone! We do a lot of custom boots that are mailed to their new homes. We need the owner in person for the fitting which can happen in our shop or elsewhere if arranged.”
Hat
The hats featured in Margot’s store are from Greeley Hat Works. Trent Johnson, the owner of Greeley, is a good friend of Margot’s and does the hats for the popular show, Yellowstone.
Necklace
Rings
Earrings
Bracelet
Scarf
Little Black Dress
Belt
By Lifting Up Ourselves, We Lift Up Others
Jacci and Margot
“If we want all women to think positively about themselves, we have to start thinking that way” -Jacci
This is a big deal.
Our negative words not only hurt ourselves, but they hurt our children and the people in our orbits. This isn’t to say that we should go back to an era that ignored problems over personal wellness.
It is to say though, that instead of negativity and self-hate, we ought to openly transform those words into power for ourselves and those around us.
What about “solution-based'' thinking?
Positivity starts from the inside and goes outward. If we say we want women to feel better about themselves, and accept their bodies, we need to do the same. It starts with every woman. It starts with each of us.
Choosing positivity gives a glow to our attitude. Just as negative self-talk leaves a residual stain on our outlook on life.