A New Generation Takes the Lead

1964

In 1964, at the age of 24, Jakob Kuster Jr. took over the company from his father, Jakob Kuster Sr., becoming the third generation to lead the family business. Shortly thereafter, his wife, Erika Kuster-Schweizer, joined the company. With her arrival, the company name was changed from J. Kuster-Bucher to J. Kuster-Schweizer, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the company's history.

A family company founded on craftsmanship and tradition. Our atelier in 1962 brought together skilled artisans dedicated to creating exceptional textiles. This moment captures the heart of J. Kuster-Schweizer — where every piece begins with hands trained in Swiss precision and an unwavering commitment to luxury.

Transformation into a Public Limited Company

1974

In 1974, the company was transformed from a sole proprietorship into a public limited company (Aktiengesellschaft). J. Kuster-Schweizer became J. Kuster-Schweizer AG, establishing the legal and organizational structure required to support the company's continued growth and future development.

New Headquarters

1983-1984

Between 1983 and 1984, J. Kuster-Schweizer AG made a significant investment in expanding its facilities. As part of a major construction project, a new headquarters was built, including modern office space, a showroom, and a new production hall.

Designed under the vision of Mrs. Kuster-Schweizer, the new headquarters reflected a forward-thinking architectural concept. More than four decades later, the building remains remarkably contemporary, standing as a testament to timeless design and thoughtful craftsmanship.

At the same time, two state-of-the-art 20-yard Saurer 1040 embroidery machines were installed, representing the latest embroidery technology available at the time. These investments significantly increased production capacity and laid the foundation for the company's continued growth and long-term success.

Strategic Expansion into the African Market

1970s – Early 1980s

During the 1970s and 1980s, J. Kuster-Schweizer AG increasingly focused its business activities on the African market. Strongly growing demand, particularly in countries such as Nigeria, created new business opportunities and led to a strategic realignment of the company.

As part of this transition, production was gradually adapted to meet the needs of the African market. At the same time, the company reduced its presence in its traditional European markets. Products such as bed linen, handkerchiefs, tablecloths, curtains, and other home textiles, which had previously been manufactured primarily for customers in Switzerland and Italy, became less significant. Instead, J. Kuster-Schweizer AG increasingly specialized in embroidered textiles tailored to the rapidly growing African markets.

Continuous Investment in Production Capacity

2008-2016

As part of the continuous expansion of its production capacity, J. Kuster-Schweizer AG invested in the modernization and growth of its equipment fleet. In 2008, an additional 15-yard Saurer embroidery machine was commissioned. Further investments followed in 2013 and 2016, with the installation of another 15-yard Saurer embroidery machine in each of those years.

These investments further increased the company's production capacity and reinforced its commitment to efficient, high-quality embroidery manufacturing.

Subheading

2024

In 2024, J. Kuster-Schweizer AG was affected by a major fire in its embroidery production hall, resulting in the complete loss of the company's equipment fleet. While the building's main structure remained intact, the production hall required extensive restoration and refurbishment before operations could resume.

As part of the rebuilding process, the company took the opportunity to comprehensively modernize its production facilities. The previous equipment fleet was completely replaced with four state-of-the-art Lässer embroidery machines, including two 15-yard and two 10-yard models.