A Footwear Brand’s Path Back After the Floods

The sneaker brand that beat the odds against American footwear manufacturing — until disaster struck. Today we continue our Made in America Holiday Gift series with Justin James, founder of Opie Way, a U.S.-made sneaker brand rooted in craftsmanship and community. Justin shares how a lifelong passion for footwear led him to build a domestic shoe factory from scratch — only to have it destroyed by Hurricane Helene in 2024. He describes the emotional aftermath, the overwhelming support from fellow makers and customers, and his determined effort to rebuild. The conversation highlights resilience, American manufacturing, and the mission to relaunch Opie Way stronger than before. Catch next week’s episode as we continue our holiday series with City Threads, a Los Angeles-based clothing brand that manufactures comfortable, durable apparel for the whole family. Make sure to tune in! 👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more stories on U.S. trade policy, buying American, and protecting American jobs. Guest Resources: www.opieway.com Resources & Links Sign up for our daily newsletter, Daily Digest or our bi-weekly version, ManufactureThis: https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/subscribe Check out our Made In America Directory: https://bit.ly/2025Gifts And sign our petition to bring shipbuilding back to America: https://act.americanmanufacturing.org/ships You can also listen wherever you get podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Socials X: @KeepItMadeInUSA Facebook: www.facebook.com/americanmanufacturing Instagram: www.instagram.com/americanmanufacturing #MadeInUSA, #GiftGuide, #OpieWayFootwear, #opieway #HolidayGifts, #AmericanManufacturing #hurricanerecovery #giftguide #sneakers #sneakerhead #sneakernews