Hand-Plying the Gossamer Threads of Echigo Jōfu

The ramie threads used in Echigo Jōfu are by made by plying together fiber strands--sometimes as fine as a human hair--end to end.
To make thread from ramie (a process called oumi, literally, “giving birth to ramie”), the thread maker divides the dried fibers into smaller bundles and then with her fingers splits one thick strand of fiber into numerous hair-like strands. She then joins these strands together end-to-end into one long thread, which she feeds into a special thread bucket called an oboke.