"Fashion is being changed by fast retail, " said Park In-chul, chairman of Sunstar.

WSJ: Sewing Machines Go High-Tech

At its factory in suburban Seoul, Sunstar Machinery Co.

WSJ: Sewing Machines Go High-Tech

To help persuade apparel makers that the machines are worth the investment, Sunstar has started to appeal to their customers, particularly so-called fast retailers, who change their inventory as often as once a week.

WSJ: Sewing Machines Go High-Tech

The new machines, which Sunstar calls "NNS" for "new network system, " are priced about 50% higher than ordinary models, making them a challenging sell in an industry that is highly sensitive to costs and operates mainly in low-wage countries in Asia.

WSJ: Sewing Machines Go High-Tech