Ramie fabric is a
natural fabric that is valued as a summer fabric because of its excellent quality of air permeability and moisture-absorption. The fabric is abrasion resistant and is stronger than
cotton and
linen. It is not harmed by mild acids and is resistant to alkali. Ramie fabric readily take dyes and does not fade easily. It is easily laundered and dries quickly. It becomes smooth and lustrous with each wash.Blended ramie fabric is more common than pure one. It goes well with other fabrics. Blending with cotton makes it more resistant to wear than cotton alone. Also when ramie fabric is blended with high quality cotton then it increases the strength, color and luster of the entire fabric. With polyester, ramie fabric becomes wrinkle resistant and shrinks less. Ramie-silk blends give firmness to the fabric. Ramie blends are used as both, knitted and woven fabrics. Blending also facilitates for easy care of the fabric. Ramie fabric with rayon helps to gain wet strength and with wool it reduces the shrinkage of wool and provides lightness. So ramie fabric manufacturers try to make the blended fabric.
Ramie fabric is obtained from the ramie plant, a tall shrub grown in South-east Asia that gives 6 crops in a year from a single rhizome. It is also known as "rhea" or "China grass", a member of the nettle family, Boehmeria nivea. China is the leading producer of Ramie. Other major producers are Brazil, Korea, and the Philippines. Pure Ramie is also known as 'white ramie' and it is the Chinese cultivated plant.
Ramie fabric was used to make the clothes of mummies in Egypt during the period of 5000 – 3000 BC. China, India, Brazil, Philippines, South Korea and Thailand are the chief producers of Ramie today. Ramie fabric has natural luster and right times more tensile strength than cotton and even it is seven time more than silk.
Characteristics of Ramie Fabric
- It has permanent luster.
- It has great strength.
- It is abrasion resistant.
- Ramie fabric wrinkles easily.
- It is extremely absorbent and dries quickly so ramie fabric is very comfortable to wear in summers
- It is resistant to alkalis and mild acids.
- It is resistant to rotting, light, mildew and insects.
- Ramie fabric also resists alkalis, rotting and light.
- It readily accepts dyes.
- It can be blended well with other fabrics.
- Ramie fabric gains more strength when wet.
- It can be bleached very easily
Disadvantages of Ramie Fabric
- It wrinkles very easily
- It is poor is abrasion resistance
- Ramie fabric is brittle and stiff
- Ramie fabric is expensive as its harvesting, production and decortication is expensive.
Uses of Ramie Fabric
- Ramie fabric is used as clothing apparels, bedsheets, tablecloths, napkins, knit products, and pillowcases.
- It is also used as carpet backings, flag buntings, fire hoses, fishnets, naval cordage, sail cloth, canvas, cable insulation, sacks, etc.
- The parachute fabric is also ramie fabric
- It is used to make sewing threads
- Used as filter cloths, narrow fabric and narrow weaving.
- It is used with wool and reduces the shrinkage of wool to large extent.
- Ramie fabric takes up phosphorous so it is used to clean Everglades.
Ramie Fabric Care
Ramie fabric care must be done as written on the label but pure ramie fabric does not require much care. Now depending upon the dye, finish and fabric with which it has been blended the washing instruction changes. However if you want the pure ramie fabric care then you can wash it is hot water and go for the ironing at high setting as well. But to retain color and luster for a longer time, very hot water for washing ramie fabric must not be used. But certain laboratory tests have concluded that if you go for the dry cleaning then you can retain color and shape of the fabric. Also the ramie fabric then will be less prone to wrinkles.Also you can set the gentle machine cycle and wash it in cold water. Also if possible you can wash linen fabric with hand in cold water and dry it in air. Also while storing ramie fabric do not fold them. It better to hang them on hangers so that no crease appears and fibers remain intact.

