Sarees have long been an integral part of Indian fashion. Modernity has brought about a lot of changes in clothing. But sarees, particularly banarasi sarees, have never lost their prominence. Authentic Banarasi sarees are handwoven from the finest silk yarn with meticulous attention to detail by skilled artisan weavers.

Since the Mughal era, Banarasi saris have been a source of pride for every Indian woman.  Banarasi sarees are also a huge part of India’s rich traditional culture. However, this market has recently been robbed of its fair share! 

In recent years, cheap Chinese imitations of Banarasi sarees have entered the Indian markets. 

This, along with the power loom sarees has reduced the market share of Indian artisans in Varanasi. Varanasi, a timeless city in Uttar Pradesh is considered the heartland of Banarasi saree weaving.

Learn how to identify a pure banarasi silk saree and how to differentiate banarasi silk saree. Also, get to know how to check if a banarasi saree is real or fake when you shop for this festival or wedding season. Reading further will help you ensure that you are able to identify original banarasi sarees.

Ways to identify pure banarasi silk saree when buying from a shop

When looking for the best Banarasi silk saree for a wedding or festival, people typically prefer to go to the store in person because it is an experience in itself. 

It is easier to distinguish the difference between an authentic banarasi silk saree and its fake imitation when you touch and feel its texture.

When buying a banarasi saree from a shop in person, there are certain ways to check for an authentic banarasi silk saree. 

Check the reverse side of the saree

You may determine its genuineness by simply looking at the saree’s reverse side. Loom-woven Banarasi sarees will always have floats inside the warp and weft grids. But machine-woven sarees will have a smooth finish.

Look for pin markings

Another technique to tell if a saree is an authentic Banarasi is to look for pin markings. These are commonly located on the saree’s selvage and are used to secure the saree to the loom.

Insist on a certificate

The Certificate of Authorized Use of the Silk Mart Logo is another important thing to look for while purchasing pure silk Sarees. If you’re buying a genuine silk saree, always demand a certificate.

While these approaches can be solely used while shopping from a store, other tactics will help you identify an original pure banarasi saree when shopping online.

Ways to buy the best banarasi sarees online from any website

When purchasing online, one has to rely on the online images and the description of the products on the website to distinguish between a pure banarasi silk saree and a fake imitation. These images often trick a gullible customer into believing an inferior quality saree to be an authentic banarasi saree. 

To ensure that you only buy genuine, heirloom-quality Banarasi sarees, use this expert checklist from Chinaya Banaras:

Price Range

Due to the use of high-quality silk and zari threads made from gold and silver alloys, pure Banarasi Silk sarees are relatively expensive. 

Handloom Weaving is a time-consuming procedure that might take weeks or even months. Original Banarasi sarees are expensive due to these features.

A bona fide quality banarasi silk saree will most likely cost between Rs 8,000 and Rs 3,00,000. While a fake banarasi saree could cost as little as Rs 2500.

Check out Chinaya Banaras’ authentic selection of pure banarasi silk sarees, which are of the highest quality and are also reasonably priced!

A patch of plain silk

Look for a lengthy area of six to eight inches of plain silk on the pallu in the close-up shot of the available online images. This section should be easy to recognize because it passes over the shoulder.

Presence of Mughal patterns

A pure banarasi silk saree will mostly feature Mughal-inspired weaved motifs like the Amru, Ambi, and Domak. It may also include intricate zari floral and foliage themes such as kalga and bel. 

These patterns signify the finesse of the craftsmanship of the weavers and are hard to find on duplicate sarees.

The Geographical Indication

Every pure silk Banarasi saree has its own G.I. mark (Geographical Indication). This is an Intellectual Property right granted by the Indian government to weavers to distinguish a Banarasi saree from the areas in which it was produced. 

The genuine Banarasi silk sarees are handcrafted in only six regions in Uttar Pradesh, according to the provision.

These six districts have their own G.I. marks: Jaunpur, Bhadohi, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Chandauli, and Azamgarh. As a result, always double-check for the mark.

The Authenticity of the seller

Check for good customer reviews and feedback before actually purchasing the banarasi saree from any website. Look at the seller’s social media accounts and reviews to make sure they have a good reputation and only offer authentic Banarasi sarees.

Description of the products

A trusted website like Chinaya Banaras will provide extensive and accurate information about their products. They can provide you with information about the fabric and craftsmanship of each item they sell. 

Authentic collections like Chinaya Banaras will also have a wide range, but other providers will only have a small quantity of Banarasi sarees.

Every authentic Banarasi Silk saree has a tale in itself. It has a lot of memories along with it. Make sure you spend your money on the best banarasi saree from the proper store, such as Chinaya Banaras, which has a wide range of pure handloom banarasi silk sarees and other exclusive items available at amazing deals and affordable prices.