In an industry dominated by overseas production, third-generation shoemaker Sara Irvani is staying true to her roots and making a bold impact. Irvani, a Chairman’s Club member, leads Buford-based Oka Brands, parent company of the Okabashi footwear line. Founded by her grandfather in 1984, the company is now one of the few — less than 1% — that still manufactures all its products in the United States. “It was a different landscape in our industry when the company began, but we’ve always stuck to our value of manufacturing our products in America,” Irvani says. “To remain competitive, we’ve maintained a lean, scrappy company and focused on specific niches that we serve really well.”

Okabashi has sold more than 40 million pairs of sandals, known for their quality, ergonomic design and sustainable materials. Product designers employ principles of reflexology to boost comfort, while creating shoes that are easy to care for and fully recyclable.

Scaling Sustainability in Buford

With the capacity to produce over 5 million shoes annually, the Oka Brands facility also provides contract manufacturing services for other brands looking to onshore their production. “Many companies want to manufacture in the U.S. but don’t know where to start,” Irvani says. “We offer a full-service solution — from model design and material sourcing to production and fulfillment — to simplify the process.”

This approach positions Oka Brands as both a producer and a partner, helping other brands meet sustainability goals while revitalizing domestic manufacturing.

People First, Always

Behind every product is a team of nearly 100 employees, and Irvani prioritizes a strong workplace culture. “I’ve always believed that ‘Culture eats strategy for breakfast,’” she says. “We’re intentional about creating an environment where our team feels connected, valued and motivated.”

That culture drives customer satisfaction, too. “Our employees enjoy shipping out high-quality shoes that bring people joy,” she adds. “We’re proud to make something meaningful and do it here in our own community.”

Stepping Beyond the Factory

Irvani’s commitment to impact goes beyond her business. She serves on the board of Soles4Souls, a nonprofit that collects overstock and gently used shoes and clothing, repurposing them to fight poverty and reduce landfill waste. In addition, the organization has provided athletic shoes to more than 1.5 million school-aged children experiencing homelessness. “We’ve seen how having a new pair of shoes can boost school participation, grades and even graduation rates,” Irvani says. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see that data and know we’re helping change lives.”

She’s also a founding board member of the Footwear Innovation Foundation, which supports research and entrepreneurship in sustainable footwear manufacturing. “We’re building models to push the industry forward,” she says. “It’s about encouraging innovation and giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to bring new ways of manufacturing to the industry.”

Thriving in Gwinnett

Irvani says she feels fortunate to be in Gwinnett County with its pro-business environment. “Partnership Gwinnett, the Gwinnett County government and the Gwinnett Chamber foster an active business community here. It’s easy to get involved and learn best practices from other leaders,” she says.

She finds the spirit of collaboration contagious. “There are so many people in Gwinnett who are being proactive and doing good work in the community — professionally and personally. It’s great to see people going above and beyond for the community, and it inspires me to do more,” she adds.