Which type of linen do you prefer? The differences between hemp, flax, ramie, and Tencel linen!
Hemp
Historical records indicate that hemp originated in China and is one of the earliest natural fibers used in textiles. It is known as the “source of Chinese textiles and the ancestor of clothing for ten thousand years,” with a cultivation history of at least 8,000 years.
Characteristics:
Corrosion-resistant, tear-resistant, and with good antibacterial properties. It also has several characteristics such as fast moisture absorption, good breathability, and quick drying.
Flax
Flax is one of the earliest natural fibers to be used in textile technology. Originating in the Near East and the Mediterranean coast, its development history is almost parallel to the history of human civilization. It is also known as “fabric woven from moonlight.” Flax is a pioneer of human fashion.
Characteristics:
Flax has excellent heat dissipation, 5 times that of wool and 19 times that of silk, making it feel 3-4℃ cooler than other fabrics.
Ramie
It has a cultivation history in China of at least three thousand years. Ramie was introduced to Europe and North America in the early 18th century. Ramie is widely cultivated in provinces south of the Qinling Mountains in China, with China accounting for 75%-80% of the world’s ramie production. Major producing areas are in northern Jiangxi, northern Hunan, and central Sichuan.
Characteristics:
Ramie fibers are long and highly breathable. Also known as summer cloth, during the Tang Dynasty, summer cloth was listed as a tribute item due to its combination of strength and softness, and its attractive color—”tender, white, and even, circulating far and wide, used by merchants.”
Tencel
Tencel ramie is a fabric made from Tencel and ramie in a specific ratio and structure. It is a derivative of Tencel fabric, an innovative variety, but its performance is even superior to pure Tencel fabric. Moreover, it overcomes some of the shortcomings of pure ramie fabric, improving its performance and expanding the application range of ramie.
Characteristics:
Tencel ramie has better breathability than ordinary clothing materials. The high strength of ramie and the flexibility of Tencel complement each other, giving Tencel ramie better durability.
Appearance Comparison
①Gloss: Hemp and ramie have a glossy appearance; flax has a matte finish.
②Texture: Hemp and flax have basically the same texture; ramie has the finest texture.
③Wrinkles: Both will wrinkle; however, hemp wrinkles less than ramie.
Other comparisons:
- Stiffness: Linen > Ramie > Hemp
- Coolness: Hemp > Linen ≈ Ramie
- Fineness: Hemp > Ramie > Linen
- Shrinkage: Hemp ≈ Ramie ≈ Linen
- Color Release: Hemp ≈ Ramie ≈ Linen
- Shedding: Linen > Hemp > Ramie
- Breathability: Hemp > Ramie > Linen
- Antibacterial Properties: Hemp > Linen > Ramie
- Price: Hemp > Ramie > Linen
- Refinement: Hemp > Ramie > Linen
