What Is Ramie Fabric & Why It’s at the Heart of Our Ambrosia Collection?

LENZING™ ECOVERO™, TENCEL™, linen, line blend, organic cotton, cotton, and bamboo. And now we’ve added ramie to our eco-friendly fabric collection. Together they represent our commitment to embracing environmentally conscious materials.

In this blog post, we'll explore why we’ve chosen ramie for our latest collection, Ambrosia, and how it aligns with our brand's sustainability mission.

Ramie is a natural fibre, similar to linen, and comes from the ramie plant in the nettle family. It's also known as grass linen or grasscloth. With a texture reminiscent of flax, jute, or hemp under the microscope, ramie stands out for its strength—nearly six times stronger than cotton and twice as strong as flax. Ramie fabric is resistant to mildew, bacteria, and other microorganisms, and doesn't get damaged by light, rot, or insects.

Ramie has a cellulose fibre, obtained through a complex extraction process, which makes it an expensive and premium fabric. Its fibres are obtained from Boehmeria nivea and utilis plants: white ramie is obtained from the first, while green ramie from the second.

Ramie fabric is one of the oldest textile fibres in use, with a history that stretches back thousands of years. It’s derived from the stalks of the nettle plant, making it a highly sustainable option. The process of harvesting and transforming ramie into fabric is gentle on the environment, requiring far less water than cotton and avoiding harmful chemicals.

Yes! Ramie is breathable and extremely absorbent. Hence, this fabric is perfect for keeping you feeling fresh and comfortable in cooler weather and summer months.

Besides that, ramie’s higher absorbency and color retention also contribute to its luxurious appearance. 

Ramie fibre is known especially for its ability to hold shape, reduce wrinkling, and introduce a silky lustre to the fabric's appearance. It is not as durable as other fibres, so is usually used as a blend with other fibres such as cotton or wool. It's similar to linen in absorbency, density, and microscopic appearance.

Here are some notable benefits of ramie fabric you might want to know:

• Long-lasting thanks to its resistance to bacteria, mildew, alkalis, rotting, light and insect attacks
• Extremely absorbent, making it comfortable to wear
• Fairly easy to dye
• Natural stain resistance
• Increases in strength when wet
• Can withstand high water temperatures during laundering
• Smooth lustrous appearance improves with washing
• Retains its shape and does not shrink
• Strong and durable, as shown in reports ramie has a tensile strength eight times that of cotton and seven times greater than silk
• Can be bleached, allowing versatility in care and styling

While ramie fabric offers many benefits, it also has some disadvantages as below:

• Low in elasticity
• Lacks resiliency
• Low abrasion resistance
• Wrinkles easily
• Stiff and brittle
• Necessary de-gumming process
• High cost (due to high labour requirements in production, harvesting and decortication)

Ramie tends to crease easily due to its low elasticity. That said, this very same property enables it to maintain its shape and structure beautifully.

With a resistance to high temperatures, a cotton/linen iron setting is ideal for pressing out any creases. It’s far better to line dry ramie fabric over machine dry to avoid bringing out a slight fuzz caused by fraying fibers.

Ramie and linen are natural fibers derived from plant stems, but they come from different plants, ramie nettle, and flax, each with distinct properties.

Both fibers are valued for their strength, durability, and breathability, but ramie obtains added strength and smoother texture. Meanwhile, linen is prized for its natural texture and beautiful drape.

Ramie is sturdy and six times stronger than cotton. It retains its durability even when wet, so it stands up well to washing, wringing, and hanging out to dry without getting damaged or stretched out of shape.

In contrast, cotton is a lighter, more delicate fiber that requires gentler care to prevent shrinkage. 

Follow these tips to take good care of ramie clothing:

• Cool hand wash separately with mild detergent

• Do not bleach, soak, rub, or wring

• Do not dry clean

• Do not tumble dry

• Line dry in the shade

• Cool iron on reverse

1. Is ramie fabric natural or synthetic?

Natural! Ramie is eco-friendly, made from plant-based materials, and completely biodegradable. It’s resistant to mildew, bacteria, and other microorganisms and doesn't get damaged by light, rot, or insects.

2. Is ramie good for hot weather?

Absolutely! As said above, ramie fabric is naturally lightweight, breathable, and extremely absorbent. Its antibacterial properties can help you feel fresh and cool in warmer climates.

3. Is ramie fabric itchy?

Ramie fabric is hypoallergenic, so it’s unlikely to cause an allergic reaction or itching.

4. Does ramie fabric shrink?

Not likely! Ramie has little elasticity, which means it’s resistant to shrinking and holds its shape beautifully.

5. Can ramie go in the dryer?

It’s best to avoid putting ramie in the dyer because its natural fibers can be brittle. Also, the high heat and tumbling action of a dryer might cause the fabric to become slightly fuzzy. We’d recommend using line drying to care for ramie garments.

6. How to get wrinkles out of ramie

To get wrinkles out of ramie fabric, you can safely use a high-temperature setting on your iron, similar to what you would use for cotton or linen. Make sure the iron is clean and free of any residue that could transfer onto the fabric.

7. Does ramie get softer?

Yes! As you wear and wash ramie clothing, the fabric becomes more flexible and the texture of the fabric softens. This natural progression enhances the comfort and feel of ramie garments, making them even more enjoyable to wear as they age.

8. Is ramie hypoallergenic?

Yes. Ramie fibres are hypoallergenic, gentle, and non-irritating. Clothing and textiles made from ramie are kind to delicate skin.

9. Is ramie fabric toxic?

No! Ramie fabric isn't toxic, but friendly and safe to your skin. It's even reported that ramie has beneficial properties such as the ability to effectively block UV radiation.

10. What is ramie fabric used for?

As said above, ramie fabric is versatile and has been used in a wide range of applications. It's a popular material for clothing, including garments like shirts, blouses, pants, and dresses. Ramie is also used in home textiles like napkins, tablecloths, and placements as well as bedding such as sheets and pillowcases.

11. Is ramie fabric soft?

Yes. Our ramie range is made from a softly textured blend of rami and cotton, designed in a relaxed silhouette. This combination offers a perfect balance of natural durability and cotton's softness, providing a comfortable and effortlessly stylish look.

12. Is ramie fabric sustainable?

Absolutely. Ramie fabric is made from the ramie plant. Ramie plant grows quickly and can be harvested multiple times a year. It also doesn't require extensive use of pesticides or fertilisers.

13. Is ramie a luxury fabric?

Ramie is a valuable and desirable fabric due to its natural lustre, strength and ability to hold shape. It's often used in high-quality and designer fashion, especially when blended with other luxurious fibres like linen, cotton, and silk.

14. Is ramie a breathable fabric?

Yes. Ramie fabric is highly breathable, making it comfortable to wear, especially in warm weather.

15. Is ramie fabric stretchy?

No. Ramie fabric isn't stretchy. It's known for its strength and durability.

16. Is ramie better than cotton?

While ramie is stronger than cotton, each fabric offers unique qualities. In our Ambrosia collection, we've blended these two materials to create beautiful clothing that showcases the best of both worlds. Check out our new collection to experience the quality and craftsmanship of ramie-cotton blend fabric.

17. How to iron ramie fabric?

Use a low to medium heat setting on your iron. Ramie can withstand heat, but a temperature that is too high can scorch the fabric. If your iron has a linen setting, that can work well.

18. Can you wash ramie fabric?

Yes. You can machine-wash or hand-wash ramie fabric. For optimal care, use a gentle detergent and cool or lukewarm water.

19. Can ramie fabric be hand-washed?

Yes. Hand washing is often recommended for ramie fabric to preserve its natural fibres.

Are you looking for the perfect place to buy ramie clothing? Look no further!

Check out our limited edition Ambrosia collection, exclusively crafted from natural ramie fabric. This collection is the epitome of stylized lounging, featuring relaxed silhouettes, luxe textures, and rich earthy colors – all designed to be as kind to your skin as they are to our precious planet.