Revolutionary American footwear maker, Opie Way, has been catastrophically affected by hurricane Helene. A fundraiser has been started to help the brand rebuild, with other MiUSA brands like WiesMade and Hudson’s Hill rallying to financially support Opie Way.
It’s hard to comprehend the level of destruction caused by a hurricane when you haven’t experienced it for yourself. I’m typing this from England and feeling retrospectively guilty for moaning about the high wind levels in my coastal town. For me, hurricanes are a foreign affair, my experience of them limited to movues and news reports from the East. But having learned about Opie Way back in 2020 and watching the brand grow to enjoy collaborations with the likes of Raleigh Denim, Proximity Mfg. Co, and Hudson’s Hill, this one felt a little closer to home, rattling a hard-working independent, family-run American maker that served our niche with sneakers of the highest quality.
Something else that’s hard to comprehend is the sheer amount of work and commitment that goes into running a brand like Opie Way. Independently producing quality re-soleable sneakers by hand using old machinery from RnD to leather cutting and sewing, running the e-commerce operation, all while wrestling with rising material costs and competing with mass-producers. It’s a life’s work, and it’s cruel that Opie Way’s progress and achievements have been swept away in this manner.
Hurricane Helene has destroyed the Opie Way factory, located inside the Diamond Brand Gear facility in Cane Creek Industrial Park. Cane Creek rose to historic levels, flooding the building upwards of 6′ inside, causing a total loss of their business. This family-run, family-owned business will have to recover from the loss of the machinery, the loss of the materials, and their employees that will have no place to work.
If you’re able to, consider donating to Opie Way’s rebuilding efforts, which are being coordinated by Evan Morrisson of Hudson’s Hill. Donation details and full information about how Opie Way has been affected can be found over on GoFundMe.