Handloom sarees are famous for their beauty and elegance, fine materials, and efforts to produce handloom sarees. However, increasingly machine-made sarees are available in the markets; hence, differentiating original hand-woven sarees becomes a little tricky. Here are five things that may help you identify a genuine product before finding an authentic handwoven saree exporter.
Examine the Fabric Closely
The first thing that gives it away is its fabric—the handloom saree is woven differently. It is often helpful to zoom in closely on the texture to look for signs of the artisanal nature of the piece. The threads can be very irregular and may not even be straight, and the thickness of the threads may vary a lot. You might see minor flaws, strings, or bends, all indicating a handcrafted item. It is also possible to see that the line’s hue can also be different throughout the length. Put your fingers on it and slide it to the side to feel the raised areas and the recesses. Therefore, it can be concluded that imperfection, which may not be ideal, indicates handwoven fabric.
Check the Edges
The finishing of a hand woven saree exporter’s handloom saree is not as perfect as that of machine-made sarees; the edges of the saree are not sharp but appear blurred. Search for loose ends and irregular seams near the saree's spallu part, sides, and end pieces. The most crucial aspect to bear in mind is that the edges of these products are not as uniform as one would expect from a mass-production item and have a sure-handmade quality. Tug the rims slightly to check if the strings unravel and verify it was made by hand.
To differentiate between handloom products and power loom products, one should search for the Handloom Mark, which is a symbol that guarantees that the product has indeed been created using the handloom technique.The India Handloom Brand logo will be seen in most handloom sarees; it will be a guarantee of its origin. This label ensures that it is hand-woven and not power-loomed; this is an added advantage of the product.
The logo has a green dot on top of it, and the words “India Handloom Brand” are placed underneath the green dot. Usually placed on the end piece, it ensures that traditional weavers on conventional looms have worked on the saree.
See the Reverse Side
Now turn it over and look at the backside of the blouse piece to see if any is added. As for handlooms, the material used has a back side that is not as polished as the front side of the fabric. There will be apparent seams, the material will be brighter where strips of other fabric colours have been sewn on, and the general appearance will be uneven or irregular. The specks of colour behind them also suggest natural dyes. So, defects suggest it was woven and dyed by real artisans, not machines or mass production.
Ask about the Origin
Lastly, do not forget to ask your hand-woven saree exporter about the weaving. All the regions of India have their own handloom patterns and designs, namely the Banarasi, Kanjivaram, Ikat, Chanderi, and others. When purchasing, ask the weavers about the design origin, the raw material used, and the cooperative information. Actual suppliers will not have any issues with sharing this artisanal origin. Also, check for the government seal of approval to be sure of what you buy.
To avoid falling for an imitation of the actual handloom saree, here are five tests to ensure that you pick the actual handloom saree. Looking at the fabric weave, the edges, the handloom mark, the backside, and the history of the product helps you distinguish the authentic handloom from the fake ones that have been produced mechanically. Buy handwoven weaves directly from genuine handwoven saree exporters; understanding the quality of handloom helps perpetuate much-valued