Mosi or fine ramie fabric is a traditional Korean fabric. Mosi cloth weaving starts with the ramie plant. It’s one of the oldest fibers cultivated for fabrics. The ramie is peeled off and then split to be made into threads. It takes great effort to make a fabric out of ramie plants, as there are many steps involved in it. To make a suit, the weaving process alone takes about 10 days.
The handmade ramie fabric is also called Jeomapo or Jeopo. Mosi is known for being light, breathable and holding its shape easily. For this reason, Mosi has long been regarded as the ideal fabric for summer attire. It is made by hand weaving strands of durable bast fiber from stems of the ramie plant, a member of the nettle family. Whenever a garment made of Mosi is washed, it becomes more lustrous and white, which gives it a fresh look and feel after each wash.
As weaving Mosi is an arduous task that calls for an experienced and dexterous hand, it was treasured as a precious fabric. This strong, yet airy natural fabric has inspired modern fashion designers like Seo Young-soo, who recently held a collection composed of pieces made of Mosi fabric.
