Understanding Saree Fabric Labels: Questions Worth Asking

The words on a saree label can be confusing, and some are used more loosely than others. Here is what the most common ones usually mean, and the questions worth asking before you buy.

Pure silk

Silk made entirely from silk fibre, usually mulberry silk. In India, the Silk Mark is a label that certifies a product is made of pure natural silk. If a saree is sold as pure silk, it is fair to ask whether it carries one.

Art silk

“Art silk” is short for artificial silk. It usually means viscose or another man-made fibre with a silky sheen. It can be beautiful and affordable, but it is not silk.

Soft silk and other trade names

Some names describe a look or a feel rather than a fibre. “Soft silk”, for example, may be pure silk, a blend or something else, depending on the maker. Always look for the actual fibre composition.

Blends

“Cotton silk” or “silk blend” means two or more fibres woven together. A good listing tells you which fibres, and ideally in what proportion.

Handloom

Handloom means the cloth was woven on a hand-operated loom. In India, the Handloom Mark and the India Handloom Brand are labels that identify genuine handloom products. A handloom claim should be one the seller can support.

Zari

• Real zari: silver thread, often gilded with gold.
• Tested zari: copper wire electroplated with silver or gold, the most common kind today.
• Imitation zari: metallic polyester or similar, light and inexpensive.

Questions worth asking

• What is the exact fibre composition?
• Is the saree handloom or power loom, and how is that verified?
• What kind of zari is used?
• Where was it woven?
• What are the length and width, and is a blouse piece included?
• How should it be cared for?

At Kasavya, we aim to answer these on every listing, and to say plainly when something is not known. If anything is unclear, contact us before you order. For a closer look at two popular silks, read Soft Silk vs Mysore Silk.