The family-owned Made in USA shoe company, known for its stylish, high-end sneakers, suffered a total loss in the aftermath of the hurricane. But fellow manufacturers are united in support of the Opie Way. they need your help.
Justin James’ childhood dream was to design and manufacture sneakers in his hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, and he realized his calling when he opened in 1999. opie way shoe factory.
There are many obstacles and pitfalls that new, made-in-America manufacturers face these days, but James never thought his mountain-top business could be destroyed by a hurricane. But that’s exactly what happened in the early morning hours of Friday, September 27th. Floodwaters from Hurricane Helen roared through Opie Way’s factory, destroying the company’s machinery, finished shoes, shoemaking supplies, and part of the building.
“There was a river running through the building about five or six feet deep, and it caused some pretty bad flooding and washed everything away,” James said. “There were boxes in the parking lot outside and shoe soles sticking out of the building. It was a complete disaster.”
The Opieway plant is located in a 1 million square foot industrial building in the town of Fletcher near the Asheville Airport. Many of the other manufacturers in the Cane Creek Industrial Park suffered a similar fate.
“Everyone who had stuff there, it was all destroyed,” James said. “Within two days, the floodwaters inside were toxic and when we entered the building for the first time, it was clear that the building was full of mold. I did.
“We lost more than $100,000 in materials and $200,000 worth of machinery, tools and equipment. We were able to salvage about 25 pairs of shoes and several more from the mud. We were able to dig up the machine and send the dirt to the old White Oak/Cone Mills denim factory in Greensboro, where we will see if there is anything wrong with it.”
When a catastrophic weather event occurs, news coverage naturally focuses on people’s lives and their homes. James, his wife Amanda, and their three young daughters survived the storm and are now set to take over the family business.
And there are other people who can help.
People involved in the small community of Made in America products often feel a kinship with each other because they have overcome the same obstacles over and over again to achieve success. So it’s heartwarming to know that so many small businesses that sell Opie Way shoes have come together to provide support.
Evan Morrison, co-owner hudson’s hill A general store in Greensboro, North Carolina takes a step forward and is born. GoFundMe page To collect donations for Opie Way and the James family. As of publication, more than $73,000 has been raised, with the final goal of $150,000.
Mr. Morrison also sold out of the Opie Way sneaker stock sold at his Hudson’s Hill retail store, with 100% of the proceeds going to Opie Way. Other Opie Way retailers in the area are doing the same.
Mr. Morrison and Mr. Hudson’s Hill raised just under $10,000 from Opie Way’s remaining inventory. and his friends made in America lorry denim We raised an additional $7,000 by selling the remaining inventory.
“The Made in USA sense of community is strong, with thousands of loyal supporters around the world of brands that make things in America,” Morrison said. “Now more than ever, we can show our support by coming together and sending donations. This will not only keep their lights on and their meals fed, but also restore their sneakers. and have a fighting chance to be produced again.
“This is a total loss and only some items can be salvaged. This family-run business has to recover from the loss of machinery, materials, displaced employees, and a backlog of orders that cannot be filled. yeah.”
Building a small American-made shoe factory is no easy task. But with Opie Way’s many distinctive designs and eccentric shoes, business really started to take off. Before the storm, Opie Way’s team was working 18 to 20 hours a day to create high-quality sneakers using the finest materials.
“We’re getting a boost that people understand what we’re doing and are rooting for us. My determination is that we need to understand this and do it even better than before. ,” James said. “Wherever we go from here, I will be forever grateful. It is very possible to make things work in America.
“There’s something like Made in America happening in North Carolina and all these brands joining forces and rallying behind us. When I started this company, so many people I was told that it was “too difficult” and “too expensive,” but I felt strongly from the beginning that there was a group of manufacturers here who were seriously working on it. Doing things together has never been more certain than now.
“If we really want to make a change and move back to domestic manufacturing, I think that’s the way it should be, and I think this group of domestic brands understands that.”
Opie Way sneakers are handcrafted in North Carolina and feature primarily leather uppers with interchangeable soles. A big selling point was that after three years, customers could send the shoes back to the factory, where the Opie Way team would replace the soles and clean the uppers.
James and his group of local made-in-America executives, all between the ages of 30 and 40, are determined to restore domestic manufacturing that has been lost over the past 30 years.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said: “It’s been amazing to see the donations keep coming in and it’s a rekindling of faith in Justin – the belief that we can not only survive, but build back better than before. “It’s great to see it directly equate to a flare-up.”
“America has many industries that are disappearing, such as textiles, cobblestone, shoemaking, blacksmithing, and apparel manufacturing, and not all of them will go away forever.As a nation, we are committed to the hard work and labor of others. We’ve become so dependent on it that we’ve reached a point where most people don’t even know where things come from, how they’re made, or how to make them if they break or need repair. I will.
“In 2024, there’s something to be said about putting your hands to work, creating a tangible, physical product, and walking away at the end of the day with something to show for your efforts. This is what Americans symbolized, and its spirit deserves to be preserved by Americans.”
James is ready to get back into the fight for American manufacturing, but he knows it will take time and money to make Opie Way sneakers again.
“I can’t believe it’s been almost five years since we worked so hard to get here and then a mountain hurricane would take us away,” James said. “I’m dedicated to making this happen, but I’m going to need a little help.”
To donate to the GoFundMe campaign, please visit the following link: Fundraising for Justin James by Evan Morrison: Saving Opie Way: Supporting James’ Family Business (gofundme.com).
James was able to store a small amount of Opie Way inventory that will soon be added to the company’s website. Almost all Opie Ways items are listed as sold out. But please be careful about updates.
There will also be a raffle organized by Go Fast Campers, featuring approximately 100 items from manufacturers across the United States. For every $20 you donate to the GoFundMe campaign, you will receive one raffle ticket. To enter a visit Opie Way Sweepstakes – GoFastCampers.
