🧪 Bonus Test (Only If You Have Loose Threads)
Silk Burn Test (only if you have an extra silk thread):
- Burn a small thread. Real silk smells like burnt hair and turns to ash.
- Fake silk smells like burnt plastic and leaves a melted bead.
Pin Marks on Selvage (Borders)
pure Handloom sarees often show tiny holes or pin marks at the borders where the saree was stretched on the loom. Powerloom sarees won’t have these.
Check Fabric Type
Most pure Banarasi sarees are made of:
- Pure Katan silk (rich, smooth, and heavy)
- Organza with zari and silk
- Georgette, Crepe and Shattir variants
Look at the Back Side of the Fabric
- Pure handwoven Banarasi sarees have thread floats, small knots, or uneven patterns on the reverse side.
- Machine-made sarees often have a clean and smooth back, which means it’s likely not handloom or not pure Banarasi.