Translated material
Nettle for kings
Ramie clothing has long been considered the privilege of kings and nobility. Made from soft, elegant and airy fabric, the outfits are not only beautiful, but also comfortable. To this day, ramie remains the best and favorite fabric of the East. In Hanseong, Korea, a whole festival is even dedicated to her. “No fiber here has ever received such an honor.”
Many people call ramie Chinese nettle. But this is only one of its varieties. There is also Indian nettle. – And all this is ramie.
From Chinese - white fiber is obtained. And from Indian - green. However, there are no significant differences between them. (except for the color difference, of course).
Externally, the ramie plant is unremarkable and resembles our Russian nettle. But unlike her, the eastern representative is very gentle and pleasant to the touch. She doesn't sting at all...
Ramie came to Europe only in the 18th century. But it never gained distribution due to its high cost. In addition, in the east, fabric production was done by hand. Whereas in Europe, paying so much attention to any material was considered a reckless waste of time and effort.
However, it is not surprising that ramie is worth its weight in gold. This material breathes, fits comfortably and shines like silk. So that any thing made from it looks luxurious.
In addition, it is a very durable fabric. It is almost impossible to break it. It is not without reason that ropes and sails for royal ships were made only from ramie.
Even over time, the fiber does not lose its properties and does not wear out. Ramie does not rot from moisture, does not stretch or shrink, retains color and shine...
Hanseong is famous for producing ramie throughout Korea. That's why the annual festival takes place here.
Fashion shows are organized especially for guests. – So you will see how different and beautiful clothes made from ramie can be. At the end of the fashion show, you can even try on outfits made from this magical fabric.
The festival includes numerous exhibitions dedicated to ramie. They demonstrate the process of sewing clothes from ramie and dyeing fabric. By the way, the paint adheres very easily to the fiber. Therefore, painting on ramie allows the imagination to roam freely. So the result is a real work of art.
Rami not only gives wonderful clothes, but also exquisite oriental cuisine. And you will see this too.
Every year they try to surprise guests with a tasting of various ramie dishes. Rice cakes and ice cream are especially popular. Green tea made from ramie is also pleasantly refreshing.
But the most cherished part of the festival is, of course, the fairs. After all, here you can buy outfits and souvenirs made from ramie at special prices!