Ramie vs Linen: Differences and Comparison (With Table)
Ramie and linen are two popular breathable fabrics used in summer. Due to their similar properties, people are often confused about ramie and linen.
The main difference between ramie and linen fabric is that the ramie fabric has longer fibers than linen. And linen has wider use than ramie because linen fabric gets softer after washing while ramie gets slightly rougher.
This article will explore the key differences between ramie and linen fabric in detail to help you make a wise choice between them.
Ramie vs Linen: Comparison Chart
The following chart shows the properties and uses of ramie and linen fabrics.
| Ramie | Linen | |
| Fiber Type | Natural fiber | Natural fiber |
| Nickname | China grass, Grass linen, China linen | Flax fabric |
| Appearance | Ramie is lustrous, silk-feel, and natural white in color. | The color of linen ofter varies from creamy white to greyish brown. Sometimes linen also can be bleached to white or near white. |
| Composition | Woven with fiber from the stem of nettle plant | Woven with fiber from the stalks of flax plants |
| Manufacture Process | The ramie plants are treated to remove the outer bark and some of the pectins and gums. And the remaining part is cleaned and degummed to extract the fibers that are used to spin the fabric. | Break the flax plants and pull out the stems, remove the straw and short fibers, and the remaining long flax fibers will be used to weave into linen fabric. |
| Properties | Lightweight, highly breathability, high moisture dissipation, good strength, low elasticity, well resistant to mold, mildew, and bacteria, easy to dye and good ability to hold its shape | High breathability, low stretchability, high moisture-wicking, good strength, easy to shrink and wrinkle, resistant to mold and bacteria. |
| Common Uses | industrial sewing thread, packing materials, fishing nets, and filter cloths | Clothes, especially summer clothes; bedding sheets, tablecloths, curtains, napkins and other household items. |
| Price | Relatively high due to its complex manufacture process | Relatively high |
What Is Ramie Fabric
Ramie is a natural and sustainable fabric that has a long history. Ramie fibers are the longest and thinnest among various hemp fibers. Its length is up to seven times longer than that of cotton fibers. Different spinning styles will produce different types of ramie fabric. For example, the wet spinning will produce soft and luster ramie yarn, while the dry spinning can produce hairier, harsher ramie yarn.
The structure of ramie fiber is larger than common ones, therefore ramie has good breathability and fast heat transference, as well as good moisture-wicking and dissipation, which can keep you cool in summer. And ramie fabric has good resistance to mold, mildew, and bacteria due to its natural features, making it a good fabric choice for people who is easy to get allergic.
The price of ramie fabric is usually higher than other common fabrics like cotton since its production needs more time and investment. Clothes made of ramie are good quality and very popular among people. 100% ramie fabric or ramie cotton blends are widely used in the garments industry and home textile products. The ramie bedding sheets are hygroscopic, breathable, and cool, making it a must-have in summer.
What Is Linen Fabric
Similar to ramie fabric, linen is also a natural fabric derived from flax plants. Flax fiber is one of the earliest natural plant fibers. And linen fabric woven with it is overhit its natural features. Linen fabrics are soft, strong, durable, and resistant to friction and high temperatures. Linen is known for its high breathability and good moisture-wicking, which makes it the ideal choice for a variety of clothes and beddings in hot summer. Besides, linen fabric is popular among all kinds of high-end luxury goods due to its no static electricity, acid, and alkali resistance.
Ramie vs Linen: 4 Key Differences
Ramie and linen fabric are popular natural fibers, they have many similarities such as breathability and moisture-wicking. But they also have differences. The main differences between ramie and linen fabric lie in the following aspects.
1. Appearance
Linen fabric owns tighter structure with smaller gaps and larger folds. But ramie fabric has a looser structure with larger gaps and more obvious folds, and its edges and corners are distinct.
Generally speaking, linen fabric has a rough feel, while ramie is rougher and lighter than linen. Sometimes, finished ramie also has a comfortable feel, and short-fiber linen also has a bad touch.
2. Properties
Linen fabric has better performance than ramie in various aspects, such as wrinkle resistance, warmth, breathability, mildew resistance, and stretchability. And linen is easier to dye than ramie, and its color is brighter. Also, linen fabric also has a good heat resistance and acid resistance.
In contrast, ramie fabric use a thicker yarn than that of ordinary cotton, making it tougher, stronger, and more durable than linen. Ramie fabric is firm, foldable, and waterproof. Ramie fabric is easy to care for, and it doesn’t shrink or lose its shape when wet. And ramie fabric will get smoother and more lustrous after repeated washing, which is like the linen fabric.
3. Common Uses
Linen fabric is widely used as a textile raw material, decorative items, and medical products. It can be woven into various types of cool linen cloth used in summers such as linen shirts, linen beddings, and linen sportswear. And it also can be blended with cotton, silk, wool, and chemical fibers. Jute and kenaf are suitable for spinning ropes and sacks for packaging.
Compared to linen, the main problem of ramie fabric is that its fiber ends are relatively sharp, making it feel itchy if not processed in place. And its processing is difficult, so ramie fabric is commonly used in outdoor use in the form of primarily processed products. It can be used as a cover for car transportation, open warehouses, and tents in the wild. After dyeing or printing, ramie fabric also can be used as a shoe material, luggage fabric, handbags, backpacks, tablecloths, tablecloths, and many more.
4. Cost
Generally speaking, linen fabric has a higher price than ramie ones in the market due to its various applications and affinity for skins. But with the increasing producing technology, the itchy feel of ramie fibers also disappear after processing and used for skin-friendly fabric. And the price of the processed ramie fabric is even the highest one among all hemp fabrics.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Ramie Fabric
As a natural fiber, ramie has lots of advantages:
● Highly breathability and absorbent, ideal for warm and humid summers.
● Strong and durable, suitable for various outdoor use.
● Low elasticity and not easy to shrink
● Naturally resistant to bacteria, molds, and mildew, as well as resistant to rot and insect attack
● Dyes easily, suitable for the garment industry
● Ramie can withstand high temperatures and keep its shape well.
Ramie disadvantages:
● Ramie is easy to drink, so ramie clothes should be hung.
● Ramie has low abrasion resistance.
● Ramie has a relatively higher price than other fibers due to its complex production process.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Linen Fabric
Similar to the ramie fabric, linen also has its advantages:
● Very breathable, dry, and easy to dissipate heat, and it is an ideal choice for clothes in hot summer.
● Linen clothes can help reduce perspiration 1.5 times compared to cotton clothes.
● Linen fabric is beneficial to reducing allergies for people with skin allergies since linen is natural and able to resistant bacteria.
● Strong and durable, easy to care for.
● Linen clothes are comfortable and lint-free.
Linen fabric’s disadvantages:
● Easy to wrinkle and shrink, and the creases is hard to remove.
● Linen fabric has a rough feel, and you may feel a bit piercing for the first time wearing it.
● The price of linen is a bit high
Conclusion
Both ramie and linen fabric have their own advantages and disadvantages. Knowing their differences and similarities can help you make a wise choice when buying clothes or other related daily used things.
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