Justin James is the founder and designer of Opie Way Footwear, a luxury footwear brand known for crafting high-quality leather and textile shoes in a domestic factory he built from the ground up in Asheville, North Carolina. With extensive expertise in footwear design and manufacturing, Justin leads every aspect of the process, from hand-lasting and strobel construction to CAD and 3D design. His innovative approach has earned recognition, including the 2020 Garden & Gun Made in the South Award and the 2021 Our State Magazine Style Award. Featured in GQ, Vogue, and The New York Times, Justin combines traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques to produce exceptional footwear that exemplifies American-made quality.
Founder & Designer | Opie Way Footwear (2019 - Present)
Appalachian State University | Bachelor's degree, Industrial and Product Design