Welcome to the ramie fiber directory section of the Apparel Search website. In this section, you will find educational information and links to resources relevant to ramie fibers. If you work in the apparel industry or simply have an interest in ramie textiles, this is the area for you. If you do not find enough information in this section of our ramie fibers guide, you may wish to check the textile section or go back to the fiber directory main page for additional textile fiber choices.
Ramie is one of the strongest natural fibers and it is strong even when wet.
Ramie (pronounced Ray-me) is one of the oldest vegetable fibers and has been used for thousands of years. It was used for Chinese burial shrouds over 2,000 years ago, long before cotton was introduced in the Far East. Ramie is classified chemically as a cellulose fiber, just as cotton, linen, and rayon. Leading producers of ramie are China, Taiwan, Korea, the Philippines and Brazil. Until recently ramie has been unknown in the ready-to-wear market in this country, but it is appearing in more garments. It is often blended with cotton and available in woven and knit fabrics that resemble fine linen to coarse canvas. Ramie usage increased in the mid-1980s with a fashion emphasis on natural fibers and a loophole in textile import regulations. Ramie, and garments made of more than 50 percent ramie, entered the United States without import quota limits. Legislation was passed in 1986 eliminating the quota-free status of ramie. Ramie is also known as China-grass, rhea and grasscloth. The fibers are found in the bark of the stalk. The process of transforming ramie fiber into fabric is similar to manufacturing linen from flax. The fiber is very fine and silk-like, naturally white in color and has a high luster.
- Learn more about Ramie from the Nebraska Cooperative Extension NF91-45. General information on ramie, published by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
If you work for a company that supplies ramie textile products, you can use the add your company link at the bottom of this page to create a listing on the Apparel Search ramie directory pages.
If you wish to read more about ramie, don't forget to visit the textile news section. More specifically, view the textile fiber news area. Also, if you work in the fashion industry or textile industry, please join us at the fashion industry network for discussions about the use of ramie.
A plant of the nettle family native to tropical Asia, but cultivated in other suffciently warm regions. The botanical name is Bohemeria nivea (especially important is variety Tenacissima). The bast fiber from the decorticated material is commercially known as China Grass and is used as a textile fiber. It is a potential source of papermaking fibers.
Ramie Old Fiber New Image: General information on ramie plus care recommendation for ramie products.
Ramie Fiber Factory Directory
Anthyia: Anthyia is created to execute the founder´s belief that she can educate those ramie farmers and factories in her hometown, and improve ramie fiber's quality and make them into one rare natural and sustainable fiber for luxury fashion and home market.
Doshi Group: Doshi Group is
one of the leading trading house in an Indian market for Exports,
Imports & Local Trading on Commission basis. The company has a strong
base in India, Gulf and Far Eastern countries with its own associates in
up country. Ramie is one of the strongest natural fibers. It
exhibits even greater strength when wet. Ramie fiber is known especially
for its ability to hold shape, reduce wrinkling, and introduce a silky
lustre to the fabric appearance. It is not as durable as other fibers,
and so is usually used as a blend with other fibers such as cotton or
wool. It is similar to flax in absorbency, density and microscopic
appearance. However it will not dye as well as cotton. Because of its
high molecular crystallinity, ramie is stiff and brittle and will break
if folded repeatedly in the same place; it lacks resiliency and is low
in elasticity and elongation potential
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