Forty-one years ago, when Sara Irvani’s grandfather launched a footwear company in Buford, Georgia, half the nation’s shoes were made in America.
Today, the figure is down to 1%.
“From the late 1890s through the 1970s or so, there had actually been shoe manufacturing in Buford,” Irvani said.
Now, the Oka Brands factory stands alone.
President Donald Trump’s controversial tariff campaign has stirred conversation, debate, hope and despair about the state of American manufacturing.







