WASHINGTON, November 13, 2024 – The United States Footwear Manufacturers Association is pleased to announce the expansion of its national network of producers and suppliers as it takes new strides in strengthening and growing the U.S. manufacturing base.
The latest members to join USFMA are:
- All American Soles in San Antonio, Texas, a producer of high-quality boots and other footwear solutions that opened its U.S. factory this year
- Koobz in Ventura, California, which specializes in the manufacture of 3D-printed sustainable and recyclable footwear
- Precision Testing Laboratory in Nashville, Tennessee, which provides textile testing ranging from strength and durability to colorfastness, flammability, and moisture management
- Z-Fab USA in Fort Worth, Texas, a domestic producer of foam molding and plastics for military footwear that is compliant with the Berry Amendment.
”USFMA is thrilled to join forces with new and innovating companies like All American Soles, Koobz, Precision Testing, and Z-Fab that are overcoming the challenges to building a robust supply chain for goods and services to produce footwear here at home and support our broader industrial base and national preparedness,” said Executive Director Bill McCann.
“The domestic footwear industry has kickstarted a renaissance over the past few years,” McCann continued, “but we must ensure policymakers and business leaders understand the value of these investments to American manufacturing. Only through collective action can we build the partnerships and support needed for policies and trade practices that will take the industry to the next level.”
USFMA’s latest members are eager to cultivate new relationships, exchange best practices, identify new customers, and work together to create more skilled jobs.
Said Kuba Graczyk, founder and CEO of Koobz: “As we join the United States Footwear Manufacturers Association, we are excited about the opportunity to grow our business while supporting footwear brands in offering products proudly made in the USA.”
“Investing in innovative manufacturing technologies like robotics, automation, AI, and 3D printing is essential for driving sustainability, competitiveness, and excellence in American-made products,” Graczyk added. “We look forward to contributing to and learning from this dynamic community of innovators."
Said Jack Kishk, founder and president of the family-owned American Soles: “We are excited to collaborate with USFMA and its membership to identify partners and new markets to help grow our businesses. It is important that we all stick together and support each other.”
“We are not new to footwear, but we are new to the American supply chain,” Kishk continued. “Right now, all our boots are made in America with U.S. and globally sourced components. Our goal is to provide all major brands the ability to make 5-10% of their footwear made in America.”
Said Eric Olson, president of Precision Testing Laboratories: “We believe in the USFMA mission to promote, strengthen, and expand footwear manufacturing in the U.S.”
“As an independent third-party U.S. laboratory focused on footwear testing, Precision Testing Laboratories is a vital part of the supply chain and can assist with testing and test methods that make U.S. footwear manufacturers and footwear component suppliers the pinnacle of quality.”
Said Mark Zubizarreta, head of sales at Z-Fab, a woman-owned business established in 2004: “USFMA is set up to protect folks in the industry like us that are Berry Amendment-compliant. We want to support that and be more involved and connected with organizations with the same goal.”
USFMA’s recent expansion follows the addition earlier this year of members La La Land Design in Los Angeles, California and Okabashi in Buford, Georgia.
The United States Footwear Manufacturers Association (USFMA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) association founded in 1986 to grow, protect and enhance the footwear industry’s manufacturing base in the United States.