Where Are Sewing Machines Actually Made? (Part 1)
Part 1: Japanese Sewing Machine Manufactures
Singer originated in the United States, historically manufacturing machines primarily in the USA and the UK. Bernina and Elna both have Swiss roots, while Pfaff began in Germany, Viking in Sweden, and Janome in Japan. Similarly, Brother, Baby Lock, and Juki are Japanese companies.
While the original home countries of these prominent sewing machine brands are familiar to many sewing enthusiasts, the actual locations of their factories in 2025 may be less clear. Where precisely are these manufacturers producing their machines today? Where are the factories located? In this edition of The Sewing Machine Newsletter, we'll explore the current factory locations and manufacturing practices of these companies, with a particular focus on Japanese companies.
This first article in our series highlights modern production facilities operated by brands like Janome, Brother, Baby Lock, and Juki, detailing how each utilizes manufacturing sites in Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, and other regions to produce their diverse range of sewing machines. Next week I’ll be putting out an article on the European companies— Singer, Viking, Pfaff, Elna, and Necchi.
I hope you find the information interesting and/or useful.
—Cale
Janome
Janome Corporation operates several manufacturing facilities globally, each specializing in different segments of their sewing machine lineup.
🇯🇵 Japan – High-End and R&D Center
Janome's headquarters and primary R&D center are located in Hachioji, Tokyo. The Tokyo factory, along with the historic Koganei facility established in 1936, focuses on producing their high-end, computerized sewing machines.
🇹🇼 Taiwan – Mid-Range Production
The Wufeng factory in Taichung, Taiwan, specializes in producing mid-range sewing machines. This facility combines Japanese engineering with local craftsmanship to produce machines that balance affordability and functionality.
🇹🇭 Thailand – Entry-Level Models
Janome's Sriracha factory in Chonburi, Thailand, focuses on producing budget-friendly, high-volume models. Generally speaking, these machines are designed for entry-level sewists looking for a cost-effective machine.
Despite the differences in production focus, Janome maintains consistent quality controls across all facilities. The regional specialization reflects strategic product segmentation rather than a hierarchy of quality. Whether produced in Japan, Taiwan, or Thailand, Janome machines are built to meet the brand's exacting standards, ensuring reliability and performance for users worldwide.
Baby Lock
🇯🇵 Japan
Baby Lock sergers are primarily manufactured in Yamagata, Japan. This facility is renowned for producing Baby Lock's signature overlock (serger) machines, upholding the brand's commitment to high-quality craftsmanship and innovation.
For their sewing and embroidery machines, Baby Lock collaborates with Brother, a prominent Japanese electronics and electrical equipment company. These machines are produced in Brother's factories located in China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, adhering to Baby Lock's specifications and quality standards.
It's worth noting that some entry-level Baby Lock models, such as the Baby Lock Joy, have been manufactured by Janome.
In summary, while Baby Lock's sergers are crafted in Japan their sewing and embroidery machines are produced through collaborations with Brother and, for certain models, Janome.
Brother
Brother Industries, a Japanese multinational company headquartered in Nagoya, Japan, manufactures its sewing machines across several global facilities to meet diverse market demands.
🇻🇳 Vietnam
In 2012, Brother opened a large-scale sewing machine factory in Đồng Nai Province, Vietnam. This facility is one of the largest single-brand sewing machine factories globally, supporting both home and industrial machine production
🇨🇳 China
Brother’s entry-level and mass-market models are manufactured in Zhuhai, China. This facility caters to large-scale production, supplying reliable and cost-effective models for global markets.
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Brother produces computerized sewing and embroidery machines in Taiwan, balancing advanced technology with efficient manufacturing processes.
Juki
JUKI Corporation, a prominent Japanese manufacturer of industrial and domestic sewing machines, operates a global network of manufacturing facilities to meet diverse market demands.
Industrial Sewing Machines: Primarily produced in Japan, China, and Vietnam, catering to various industries including apparel, automotive, and upholstery.
Household Sewing Machines: Manufactured mainly in China, these machines are designed for home use, incorporating features derived from JUKI's industrial technology.
JUKI's strategic placement of manufacturing facilities across Asia enables the company to efficiently serve global markets while maintaining high standards of quality and innovation.
🇯🇵 Japan: Ohtawara Factory
Established in 1971, the Ohtawara Factory serves as JUKI's flagship manufacturing site for industrial sewing machines. This facility integrates processes such as machining, painting, assembly, and quality control, embodying JUKI's commitment to precision and innovation.
🇨🇳 China: Shanghai and Langfang
JUKI operates multiple facilities in China:
Shanghai JUKI Sewing Machine Co., Ltd.: Focuses on the production of household sewing machines.
JUKI (Langfang) Industrial Co., Ltd.: Specializes in manufacturing industrial sewing machines.
🇻🇳 Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City
In Vietnam, JUKI has established:
JUKI (Vietnam) Co., Ltd.: Engaged in the development and production of industrial sewing machines, as well as parts manufacturing.
JUKI Machinery Vietnam Co., Ltd.: Handles sales and distribution of industrial sewing machines.
🇮🇳 India: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
In 2024, JUKI commenced operations at a new facility in a suburb of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, marking its expansion into the Indian manufacturing sector.
Thank you for reading!
Stay tuned— next week I’ll be putting out an article on the European sewing machine companies: Singer, Viking, Pfaff, Elna, and Necchi.
If you found this article interesting, please share it with your fellow sewists. Your support is very much appreciated.
—Cale
Actually the Babylock machines ,made by Brother , which is just about every sewing machine are identical except for the case . Since Tacony which is just distributer markets them , the consumer pays on average a 30 % premium for the Babylock over the same Brother . There are a number of sources online that give you the list of all the models .
Interesting article, thank you!
You mentioned that the next article will be about the listed European machines, but the list doesn’t include BERNINA. Perhaps an oversight?