Although rami is not as well-known as cotton or linen, it is nevertheless distinguished by a special set of attributes. Because it comes from a natural plant source, rami is strong, durable, and breathable, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
This fabric’s production is based on sustainable methods, and it has been in use for centuries. It’s perfect for clothing and home textiles because it’s naturally resistant to mold and bacteria in addition to being environmentally friendly.
Rami is a material to take into consideration if you’re searching for something that will maintain its shape or that will be comfortable in warm weather. Few fabrics manage to combine tradition and functionality as well as this one.
| Description | Ramie is a natural fabric made from the fibers of the ramie plant. It"s known for being strong, durable, and having a silk-like luster. The fabric is lightweight and breathable, making it ideal for warm-weather clothing. |
| Composition | Ramie fabric is composed of 100% natural fibers from the ramie plant, which belongs to the nettle family. The fibers are extracted from the inner bark of the plant and then processed into fabric. |
| Application | Ramie is used in clothing like shirts, blouses, and dresses due to its breathability and smooth texture. It"s also used in home textiles, such as tablecloths and upholstery, because of its strength and resistance to wrinkling. |
History of origin
Nettle textiles have a long history dating back thousands of years. The fabric is five thousand years old, according to artifacts and historical records that have survived to this day.
Nettle-based textiles were used to make ceremonial garments for the highest nobility in ancient China. A thin, silky-sheen, translucent material with a texture similar to flax.
Growing raw materials for the making of ramie started in China and the Malay Peninsula. The best climate for growing white and green nettles is found in southern Asia. For technical products, raw materials sourced from temperate-latitude plants were employed.
The aristocratic nobility received their ramie textiles from sea vessels sailing from the island of Java to Europe. The fabrics were referred to as "cambric" in France. The industrial import of materials to Europe from East Asia started in the eighteenth century. Nevertheless, other plant materials gained popularity during this time and the fabric did not find widespread use.
The advent of sewing in the ramie product industry dates back to the 1930s. Then, consumers and industry leaders become disinterested in the content once more. The textile first surfaced in Russia towards the close of the 1800s. A period of obscurity succeeded the new nettle product’s popularity.
The trend toward naturalness at the end of the 20th century gave rise to a fresh wave of interest. Fashion catwalks introduced ramie due to textiles’ hypoallergenic properties and environmental friendliness.
Description of the plant
A plant that belongs to the nettle family of bast fibers is used as a raw material to make ramie fabric. Species grown in South America, the Philippines, China, India, Japan, and Indonesia are used in the textile industry.
The perennial herbaceous semi-shrub known as "rami green" or Indian nettle (lamium) grows up to two meters tall and has serrated leaves. There are six harvest cuts per year. The labor-intensive processing method, which impacted the fibers’ cost, was dictated by the raw materials’ high resin and pectin content.
The large size and color of the leaves set white ramie and rhea apart. They are 15 cm long and have soft, silky, white villi covering them. They impart a silvery sheen to the fiber.
Making threads
You can make long threads out of white nettle. In contrast to green deadnettle, the method of processing requires more work. As a result, fibers are expensive and are not as frequently used in the large-scale manufacturing of clothing.
Raw materials are manually gathered, cleaned, and dried. Nettles are rich in resins, which makes removal challenging. The methods that are employed are chemical and biological, and they have no fundamental impact on the outcome.
12 to 50 cm long fibers are produced by nettles. The threads have a noble silvery shine and a snow-white color. The strands are silky and thin.
Finished textiles are printed with a pattern or dyed. Sunlight resistance is a feature shared by all textile options, including those with natural colors.
Characteristics and description
Ramie fabric resembles natural flax in appearance. It is a thin, translucent fabric that is dense, smooth to the touch, and has a faint, noble sheen. The following table provides an explanation of the final material’s properties:
| Characteristics | Indicators |
|---|---|
| Type of textile | Natural of plant origin |
| Used fibers | Ramie, blended fabrics: 60% ramie, 40% cotton (nettle cambric), mixed with wool fibers (including in the production of yarn for knitting) |
| Method of weaving | Plain |
| Density, g / sq. m. | 210 – 240 |
| Standard width, cm. | 138, 145 |
| Dyeing options | Undyed, plain dyed and printed fabrics |
| Shrinkage, % | 2 – 3 |
| Water resistance | Average |
| Hygroscopicity, % | 16 – 18 |
| Moisture absorption rate | High |
| Wear resistance | High |
| Air permeability | Optimal |
| Vapor permeability | High |
| Electrification | Minimum |
| Manufacturer | China, Japan, India, Korea, Indonesia |
| Price | High, average price tag is 17 euros per 1 meter of textile |
Pros and cons of ramie
It’s a good idea to educate yourself on the benefits and drawbacks of ramie before buying any products or sewing fabric. It is challenging to predict how a textile will behave when sewn and worn from a photo. Customer reviews aided in determining the material’s advantages and disadvantages.
Among the benefits of natural rice are:
- comfortable wearing of fabric products due to high hygroscopicity and vapor permeability;
- ramie has bactericidal properties: it is not subject to rotting and the proliferation of mold fungi in the fibers;
- resistance to UV rays;
- easy to care for;
- has a dirt-repellent property;
- resistant to the effects of weakly concentrated acids;
- dimensional stability.
Among the drawbacks are the following attributes:
- has the ability to wrinkle heavily when worn;
- over time, the color “washes out”;
- abrasion resistance — average;
- not elastic;
- high price.
Rami fabric is distinguished by its special combination of sustainability, breathability, and strength. Using natural fibers, it provides a strong and environmentally responsible choice for a range of applications, including home textiles and apparel.
Due to its versatility, this fabric is well-liked by both customers and designers. Rami is a fantastic option if you’re looking for a material that can withstand heavy use or something that is comfortable to wear.
By selecting Rami, you are demonstrating your support for a more sustainable approach to fashion and textiles while also selecting a fabric that satisfies your needs.
The ramie plant’s fibers are used to make rami, a natural fabric prized for its strength, resilience, and breathability. This fabric is frequently used in apparel, home textiles, and even industrial materials because of its silky, smooth texture. It is prized for its capacity to retain shape, withstand wrinkling, and absorb moisture, which makes it an adaptable option for a range of uses.
