Ask anyone to name a brand of sewing machine, and nine times out of ten, you’re likely to hear the name: Singer. Nearly every grandmother has an old Singer treadle sewing machine tucked in her garage, collecting dust or on display as a side table.
Singer was founded 174 years ago by Isaac M Singer in New York City. According to the brand, “since 1851, the name SINGER has been synonymous with sewing.” Just a few years after its founding, Singer became the world’s largest-selling company of sewing machines.
During the World Wars, Singer took a break from producing sewing machines and instead made munitions, machine components, and weapons. Today, Singer continues to develop and manufacture sewing machines for international sales. They sell a wide range of machines, from simple sewing machines to complex embroidery machines, heavy-duty units, and even machines with technical assistance and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Included in their brand family are other sewing machine companies, such as Pfaff, Husqvarna, and Viking. These brands, including Singer, are all owned by the parent corporation SVP Worldwide.
The very first Singer was built in Boston. A few years later, a factory was established in New York. That was over 150 years ago…are the machines still being built here today? Let’s find out.
Verdict: Are Singer Sewing Machines Made in the USA?
No, Singer sewing machines are no longer made in the USA; they are primarily manufactured in Asia.
In the early years, Singer built their machines in a factory in New York. As the company grew, it expanded American manufacturing to large facilities in New Jersey, South Carolina, and Connecticut. Another North American factory was located in Quebec, Canada.
In 1857, Singer made the move to begin manufacturing in Europe to accommodate the increasing demand and serve the international market.
Less than 20 years after its founding as a company, Singer relocated to its third international location. In 1867, the brand began manufacturing in Glasgow, Scotland. In 1904, they established a factory in Turkey and dispatched salespeople to remote mountain villages to promote their machines. The Turkey factory closed in 2004.
Singer shut down their American factories by the 1980s, prioritizing manufacturing overseas due to a decline in home sewing needs and cheaper opportunities abroad.
Today, parent company SVP Worldwide is headquartered in La Vergne, Tennessee, and conducts manufacturing operations abroad, primarily in Asia and Latin America.
The central manufacturing locations identified by SVP are:
- Indaiatuba, Brazil: Needles factory
- Shanghai, China: Sewing machine factory
- Hanoi, Vietnam: Manufacturing facility
Additionally, commercial offices are located everywhere, from Sweden to Singapore to Mexico. Below is a map created by SVP, identifying all of their offices worldwide.
A label from an old Singer machine made in Canada:
A label from a modern Singer sewing machine made in Vietnam:
Singer sewing machines are an important part of American history, but sadly, are no longer made in America.
Popular American Made Singer Sewing Machines
- None
Popular Singer Sewing Machines Not Made in the USA
- Singer Heavy Duty 4452 Sewing Machine
- Singer Patchwork 7285Q Sewing and Quilting Machine
- Singer SC220 Sewing Machine
