PURPOSE: To reduce the weight of a cellulose fiber with slight deterioration of strength and obtain a flexible modified cellulose fiber capable of increasing the water absorbency by treating the cellulose fiber with a low-temperature plasma of an inorganic gas excited with a radio wave at a specific frequency.

CONSTITUTION: A fabric composed of a cellulose fiber is irradiated with a low-temperature plasma of an inorganic gas exited and produced with a radio wave of a short wave at 1-50 MHz frequency of carry out a weight-reduction finishing with slight deterioration of strength. Thereby, a cellulose fiber having a soft feeling and well improved in antifouling and water absorbing properties and hue of a dyed fabric is obtained.