Soft. Eco-friendly. Breathable. Discover ramie, a precious and resistant plant fibre similar to linen and a sustainable alternative to silk.
What is ramie?
Native to the Far East, ramie is a fibre that has been used since ancient times to make fabrics – like linen or kapok. Also known as Chinese nettle, it produces a fabric with an impeccable fall and a beautiful silky appearance. Its understated elegance, low environmental impact and durability over time are perfectly in line with the values that MUJI wishes to convey through its collections.
Strong, soft fibres
Ramie comes from a large bushy plant with deep roots. To process it, its stems are placed in a high-temperature oven to remove the bark, wood and pectin, and extract the fibre. It is then dried, sorted, combed and drawn in a spinning machine using the same method as for cotton. The resulting thread is then delicately twisted to create a unique material and fine, light fabrics.
An environmentally-friendly material
A perfect example of the return of plant-based textile fibres to minimise the environmental impact of fashion, ramie is an ecological and highly sustainable fabric. Naturally resistant to mould, bacteria, light and insects, it can be grown without pesticides or chemicals. And, unlike cotton, it requires very little water.
For clothes that are as refined as they are hard-wearing
In addition to its ecological qualities, ramie is more breathable than silk thanks to its hollow fibre and open pores. Resistant, easy to dye or bleach and retaining its shape well without shrinking, it has a smooth, lustrous appearance that improves with each wash. Perfectly fitting shorts, long ethereal skirts or floaty blouses that are easy to forget about – its lightness and ability to dry quickly make it a great asset for summer outfits. Naturally beautiful and easy to wear.