The History of Bemberg® and Bemberg® Lining
Foundational Discovery
1857 — Swiss chemist Matthias Eduard Schweizer (1818–1860) at the University of Zurich first discovered that cellulose dissolves in a copper-ammonia solution (tetraamminecopper(II) hydroxide). This solution later became known as "Schweizer's reagent."
Patents and Industrialization
1890 — French chemist Louis-Henri Despeissis obtained the first patent for manufacturing fiber using the cuprammonium process. This marked the first patenting of cupro fiber production technology.
1897 — German chemist Max Fremery and Austrian chemist Johann Urban were granted a German patent for producing fiber by reprecipitating cuprammonium cellulose solution. The fiber was initially used for incandescent lamp wicks, not textiles.
1899 — Alsatian textile chemist Emil Bronnert, together with Fremery and Urban, established Vereinigte Glanzstoff-Fabriken AG (United Artificial Silk Factories) in Wuppertal-Elberfeld, Germany, and began industrial production of cupro fiber for textile applications. This represents the true starting point of cupro fiber as a textile material.
1901 — German chemist Edmund Thiele developed a spinning process at J.-P. Bemberg AG in Wuppertal-Oberbarmen, Germany, producing "artificial silk" via the cuprammonium method.
1908 — J.-P. Bemberg AG began commercial production of cupro fiber under the trade name "Bemberg silk."
Asahi Kasei: Industrialization and Refinement
1922 — Asahi Kasei was founded as Asahi Silk Co., Ltd. (旭絹織株式会社), marking the beginning of the Asahi Kasei Group.
1928 — Asahi Silk Co., Ltd. introduced cupro fiber technology from Germany and began industrial exploration in Japan.
1931 — Asahi Kasei officially commenced production of Bemberg® branded cupro fiber for apparel applications in the Hokuriku region. Production later expanded to the Ryomo region (Kiryu City, Gunma Prefecture and Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture), initiating nearly a century of quality heritage.
Note: Bemberg® is a registered trademark of Asahi Kasei. Only cupro fiber produced by Asahi Kasei may be called Bemberg®.
Technological Evolution and Global Expansion
1931s–1950s — Bemberg® was primarily used in hosiery, lingerie, and intimate apparel, gaining recognition for its exceptional softness, breathability, and elegant luster.
1960s–1980s — The application of Bemberg® expanded into premium suit linings, gradually becoming the default choice for international luxury fashion houses.
Bemberg® Lining in China: A Partnership of Growth
1990s — Asahi Kasei began its global expansion. During this period, Bemberg® lining entered the Chinese market, serving the nation's burgeoning high-end garment industry.
Early 2005 — Ningbo Yakyo Bemberg Textile Co., Ltd. was established as a joint venture, becoming the sole authorized producer and distributor of Bemberg® lining in China. The founding of Yakyo Bemberg marked the official localization of Bemberg's century-old craftsmanship in China.
2005–2010 — Yakyo Bemberg introduced Asahi Kasei's complete production technology and quality management system, establishing a fully integrated production chain from fiber to weaving to finishing.
2010–2015 — Production capacity was expanded and processes optimized, establishing Yakyo Bemberg as a core supplier in China's high-end garment accessories market.
2015–Present — Through continuous technological innovation, Yakyo Bemberg's products are now distributed globally, serving the world's leading fashion brands.