An heirloom, a piece of art, an elegant piece of wear; a pure silk saree is a true investment among saree lovers. However, it is quite a challenge to secure a really pure silk saree with synthetic lookalikes flooding the market. These artificial fabrics can easily fool the untrained eye.
How do you make sure your hard-earned money goes toward genuine silk? This long-awaited guide teaches you exactly what you should know to distinguish the difference.
Let’s dive into some simple tests and practices you can use to identify pure silk sarees.
1. Check for the Silk Mark Label
A silk mark label is a great indicator of identifying pure silk sarees. This is a government-backed assurance tag that guarantees a saree is made of 100% pure natural silk. This was introduced by the Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI), a body established under the Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles.
You can recognise this as a hologram tag or sticker with a butterfly icon with the “Silk Mark” text and a unique ID. Remember that this tag is sometimes replicated, so cross-check the ID with the official Silk Mark India website.
Also note that this tag isn’t always available in some pure silk sarees, so don’t determine a saree’s purity solely by that tag.
Additional Verifications: For Indian silks, ensure your purchase receipt or bill includes the HSN code 5007, which corresponds exclusively to pure silk fabrics.
2. The Burn Test, Only Loose Threads
This is a simple silk quality check if you can access the saree physically. The burn test involves taking some of the loose threads from the inner hem of the silk saree and carefully burning them.
Here’s how you should execute the test carefully and safely:
1. Carefully pull 2-3 loose threads from the inner seam or edge of the pallu. It is better if you can test both the warp and the weft fibers, if possible.
2. Select a non-flammable surface like a metal or ceramic tray to perform this.
3. Hold the threads with metal tweezers and bring the flame to the tips.
4. Observe the reaction.
If pure silk: The flame will extinguish itself. The smoke will smell like burning hair or feathers. The residue will be a powdery ash.
If synthetic silk: The threads will melt quickly. The smoke will have a strong plastic odor. The residue is a solid, shiny bead.
3. The Ring Test
The ring test focuses on verifying the flexibility and smoothness of pure silk sarees. However, this test is suited only to verify lightweight pure silk sarees. Unembellished silks like plain crepe or georgette sarees are the natural fit for this test.
In order to perform this test, follow the steps below:
1. Gather the corner of the saree.
2. Pull gently through a standard finger ring.
3. Watch how it glides through. Pure silk sarees are smooth and thin enough to glide through effortlessly. If the fabric stretches or resists, it is likely a synthetic blend.
Before you come to any conclusions after this test, keep in mind that heavy weaves or embroidered silk sarees may fail this test even if they are 100% pure silk sarees.
4. The Lustre and Touch Test
Another distinctive feature of pure silk is how it behaves under light exposure. When light is either passed through the fabric or shined upon it, this is how it reacts:
Lustre/Shine Test
Authentic silk refracts light from different angles. Hold the saree in natural daylight or any light source, and you will notice its sheen will shift and change color when looked at from different angles.
If passed through, the light will pass evenly throughout the fabric.
Touch Test
Silk is a great insulator. If you squeeze it tightly, you’ll feel the fabric warming to your body temperature.
The Path Towards a Worthy Investment
The next time you seek a pure silk saree, you are equipped with the right knowledge to identify it yourself. End the hesitation, and start exploring and choose your desired silk saree. Rithihi’s belief is that sarees are a way of life. From draping elegantly at your special occasion or casual workplace event, every setting deserves a fully authentic touch of pure silk sarees. Explore a range of handwoven pure silk sarees in Sri Lanka, originating from real silk farms in Varanasi and designed by the finest designers.
Embrace the most authentic version of sarees with Rithihi.
