Hardware Podcasts

Running a US Shoemaking Business on Heritage and Sustainability with Sara Irvani, CEO of Okabashi

Manufacturing Happy Hour · 24 Jan 2023 · 31m

What this episode covers

Sara Irvani, CEO of Okabashi, explains how her family-owned US footwear company integrates sustainability and innovation to remain competitive in domestic manufacturing. She details their use of bio-based materials like 45% soy, closed-loop scrap recycling, and a post-consumer take-back program to avoid landfills. Irvani also discusses the strategic shift toward modular automation in packaging and the importance of a fear-free culture that empowers teams to experiment with new materials and processes.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Okabashi, Target, J.Crew
Also
USDA

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