Native to Southeast Asia, the plant from which ramie fiber, also known as China grass, is derived is a member of the nettle family scientifically described as Boehmeria nivea. The extraction of fibers from the plant can be a somewhat complex and expensive process because several steps are required in order to successfully separate the filaments from surrounding gums and resins. The spinning and weaving of ramie can also be an intricate and difficult endeavor due to the characteristic brittleness and relative inflexibility of the fibers. Such attributes have significantly limited the use of ramie in commercial products.