AURORA, Ill., March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- In 1932, several important events occurred that still affect lives today. Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. Physicists Sir John Douglas Cockcroft and Ernest Walton split the atom for the first time. Jazz composer Duke Ellington wrote "It Don't Mean a Thing, If It Ain't Got That Swing," launching the swing era of the 1930s and 1940s. And the Swiss company, Fritz Gegauf, introduced the first Bernina(R) household sewing machine, selling more than 20,000 of them in

Seventy-five years ago, the main purpose of a household sewing machine was to save money on buying and repairing clothes. The sewing machine has evolved into an instrument of self-realization that allows a sewer to express creativity. For Bernina, the last 75 years have provided a continuous progression of innovation:

* 1938 - First Bernina zig-zag sewing machine * 1945 - First Bernina free-arm ziz-zag sewing machine * 1954 - First patented attachable presser foot (Today, Bernina offers more than 100 presser feet and accessories) * 1963 - First patented knee-activated presser foot lifter * 1971 - First Bernina with electronic foot control * 1986 - First fully-electric Bernina with automated one-step buttonholes and embroidery pattern memory * 1998 - Birth of the artista model, the first sewing and embroidery computer created for sewing artists * 2002 - First sewing and embroidery system with Microsoft(R) Windows(R) powered operating system, the artista 200E * 2004 - Release of the patented Bernina Stitch Regulator (BSR) that virtually guarantees even and consistent stitch lengths irrespective of sewing speed or handling of the fabric * 2006 - Introduction of Bernina Embroidery Software v5 with exclusive Advanced Applique feature

"The history of innovation began in my family four generations ago when my great grandfather invented the first hemstitching machine," said Hanspeter Ueltschi, owner and CEO of BERNINA International AG, the only family-owned sewing machine company left in the world. "The Bernina brand, created in 1932, is named after the soaring peaks of a mountain nearby the Bernina factory in Steckborn, Switzerland."

The company's sewing and embroidery machines are sold in 20 countries. Bernina of America was established in 1969 in Chicago, as the exclusive Bernina distributorship in the United States. Bernina of America sells machines through a network of approximately 500 dealerships across the country.

"Our focus has always been to create machines and accessories that inspire our customers to do more, have more fun and be more creative than ever before," said Martin Favre, president of Bernina of America. "We take great pride in our legendary Swiss precision and technologically advanced features, but only because our innovations enhance our customers' creativity."

To commemorate its 75th anniversary, Bernina has created a year of promotions under the theme "It's our anniversary, but this is your year." The first promotion begins today. Bernina's "Diamond Anniversary" event invites everyone to visit http://www.berninausa.com/75 March 15 - 19, and register to win a $5,000 diamond shopping spree. Other events will be hosted by Bernina dealers across the country through 2007.

About Bernina

Founded in Switzerland more than 100 years ago, Bernina(R) is the world's premier manufacturer of state-of-the-art sewing and embroidery systems, sergers and embroidery software sold in the United States through a network of approximately 500 fully trained dealerships. The Bernina artista 730E sewing and embroidery system is a 2007 "Consumers Digest Best Buy." During 2007, the company will commemorate the 75th anniversary (http://www.berninausa.com/75) of the first household sewing machine carrying the Bernina name. To learn more and to find a dealer, visit http://www.berninausa.com/ or call 630-978-2500.

Source: Bernina