Ramielust

To be frank we don’t 100% understand what makes ramie so damn good in the hot and humid weather, but the stuff is like magic and we are going to keep on using it whether we understand it or not. And of course we’re going to keep trying to understand that magic too, as the more we know about out fabrics, the better our products become.

Ramie is quite possibly the world’s oldest fiber. It’s a nettle plant native to Southeastern Asia, the stalks of which can be processed into a fiber quite similar to linen. Like linen, it can absorb large amounts of moisture while retaining a dry hand feel. They both have very flat surfaces that allow water to travel quickly across the surface via capillary action making it cool to the touch and quick to dry. Finally, like linen, ramie is a rather stiff fiber which means it can retain a very open structure that allows for superior air flow and breathability. This also means they both start out rather stiff but break in to a beautiful softness over time if cared for properly. (Avoid top-loading washing machines!).

Both our Ramielust T-Shirts and Ramienorth Pivots are 100% ramie fabrics that clock in at weights way heavier than generally used for warm weather clothing, yet wear far cooler than just about anything else. Maybe it's magic, maybe it's science, but either way we know that we can't get enough of this stuff as the temperature and humidity start rising together. 

It's worth noting that the key here is hot AND humid. In hot and dry climates we recommend a lighter material like our Ramielight or Dreamweight fabrics. For cold and humid this stuff is actually dangerous-you don’t want a shirt that pulls heat away from you in the cold! But when it’s both hot and humid out, nothing beats ramie.