How a 1908 sewing machine repair shop became a global electronics giant
Long before they were known for printers and computers, the Yasui brothers were mastering the mechanics of thread and needle. From a small Nagoya workshop to a multinational empire, the evolution of Brother Industries reveals a masterclass in industrial diversification and global expansion.
The origins of Brother Industries trace back to 1908 in Nagoya, Japan, where Kanekichi Yasui established a business providing parts and repairs for sewing machines. The company’s trajectory changed when Masayoshi Yasui inherited the enterprise, renaming it Yasui Brothers' Sewing Machine Co. By 1928, the firm produced its first major innovation: a chain stitch machine capable of manufacturing straw hats, which gained a reputation for being more durable than contemporary German models.
A pivotal moment arrived in 1932 when Jitsuichi Yasui, Masayoshi's younger brother, developed shuttle hooks, enabling the mass production of home sewing machines. This technological leap laid the foundation for a massive manufacturing legacy; by September 2022, the company celebrated a milestone of 70 million home sewing machines produced since mass production began. The company's reach expanded globally, establishing a US affiliate in 1955 and a European presence in Dublin by 1958.
Throughout the 20th century, the company underwent significant structural shifts, including a name change to Brother Industries, Ltd. in 1962. While deeply rooted in textiles, the firm aggressively diversified into the typewriter market, eventually competing with established Japanese brands like Silver Seiko Ltd. This diversification extended into the 1960s and 1970s with the production of printers, label printers, and even calculators. Today, the company's footprint includes massive manufacturing hubs in China, Taiwan, and Vietnam—the latter housing the world's largest single-brand sewing machine factory.
Despite its high-tech present, the company's history is marked by the ebb and flow of industrial eras. In the 1960s and 1970s, Brother was a target of anti-dumping campaigns in the US and Europe due to its low-priced manual typewriters. By November 2012, the era of the UK-made typewriter ended at their Wrexham factory, which had produced 5.9 million units since 1985.
Source: Brother Industries
