What is the difference between ramie and linen

The summer garment made with it has the characteristics of moisture absorption and breathability. Previous: Cotton sofa fabric washing method. Next: Is Polyester Fabric Pilling. Vintage Velvet Curtain Fabrics. Crushed Velvet Chair Cushion. Woolen Chair Cushion. Velvet Upholstery Fabric for Chairs. Previous post. Next post. Skip to content Native to China, ramie is a linen-like fibre made from nettles and which is classified as a cellulose fiber, just like cotton, linen and rayon. Leave a comment Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.

Previous post Sunday plus-size pattern roundup 4. Next post Sunday plus-size pattern roundup 5. Once that is done the bark is dried out as quickly as possible to prevent bacteria and fungi from getting to the fibers. It is said that Ramie fabric was used by the ancient Egyptians to wrap their mummies.

The reason this material was used was because of its ability to resist mildew and other bacteria. But it is not sure as it is hard to tell the difference between flax and ramie fabrics in ancient materials. While the two fabrics share a lot of similarities, there are some major differences that may explain why it is not used as much as linen or even cotton in clothing. One difference is that when washed regularly, ramie becomes rougher and can cause some skin irritations.

Linen when washed, is generally softer and keeps getting softer making it perfect for those with sensitive skin. While ramie is an expensive fabric, linen still costs more than it.

There may also be a waxy feel to ramie but that may depend on how it was processed and not the overall feel of the fabric.

Like linen, ramie can break if left folded for too long. There are a lot of characteristics that the two fabrics share like breathability, dries quickly, resists mold and bacteria, and so on. There is also a high luster to the fabric which linen also has. Both fabrics have good strength to them. You could probably replace linen with ramie until you wash it once too often. Not really, while it is the cheaper of the two materials, ramie is about even to linen when it is turned into clothing and other high use items.

They both have many similar qualities like high luster, strength, anti-bacterial properties as well as being quick drying. But if anything, linen is probably the better of the two fabrics because it gets softer after every wash while ramie does not.

Both will last a long time as they are both very durable fabrics. Then both fabrics are generally used in locations outside of the US with flax being used more in Europe and Northern Africa and ramie used in India, China and other Asian countries. But that is generally only, you should find both materials in most countries of the world. All fabrics have their good and bad points. Ramie, while being natural and has great qualities, also has some negatives that make it hard to use to replace other materials.

An eco-friendly product simply means that the plant or other natural source doesn't need pesticides and other chemicals to help it grow and mature.

Then it is a very sustainable product because it can be harvested up to 3 times a year and sometimes as many as 6 times when the year is really good. Part of its nature is that it resists bacteria, mold, UV rays, rot, and insect attacks. Those natural defenses make it possible to avoid using harsh chemicals to help it grow healthy.

This process also helps the ramie fibers be 8 times stronger than cotton. Then because it can be harvested frequently, that makes this plant very sustainable. The fact that you can get multiple harvests out of the ramie plant makes it a very sustainable plant that does not require a lot of space to grow.

The plant is a better source for fabrics as it does not allow for harsh chemicals to be used and pollute the ground. It is more expensive than most versions of cotton but it is not more expensive than linen or silk. That would put it in about the mid-range when it comes to costs. One would think that the multiple harvests you can get each year would drive the costs down but the labor-intensive production process keeps the cost of ramie inflated.

That makes the material affordable. Your costs will depend on your region of the country, how much demand there is for this fabric, and the quality of the material. Larger cities have higher costs so expect the material to be higher in price than in smaller locations. Online stores may have cheaper prices as they have found a way to limit their expenses and pass the savings on to you. Do some research to see where the fabric is on sale or where you can get the best bargains.

Saving money these days is very important. One of its best positive qualities is the fact that ramie fabric is not supposed to shrink.

Unlike other natural fibers, ramie holds its shape very well even when washed in hot water. This characteristic makes this fiber ideal to blend with other natural fibers.

Cotton and other shrinking materials benefit from being blended with ramie. You are the winner because you get all-natural fibers instead of a blend of natural and synthetics. When you own ramie made clothing, you can have confidence that those items will retain their original shape. But that does not mean that there may not be lower qualities of this fabric. When made in lower qualities it may be possible to see some shrinkage take place. Ramie materials are supposed to be strong when wet.

That helps prevent shrinking and keeps your clothing lasting along time.