How do I know if my silk saree is of good quality?

How to know silk saree quality

The Silk Sarees are one of the most pampered outfits for all occasions and festivals. It is not only
extremely loved in India but also Indian silk is also celebrated all around the globe for its
elegance. Today, while looking high and low to get an aesthetic silk saree with vivid colors and bright
borders, I stumbled upon fake silk saree sellers. Yes, it might occur to you as a blue from the bolt but it
is true. The essence of our favorite cloth material with intricate designs has been tried to replicate
many times.

How do I know if my silk saree is of good quality? We can make out by considering it’s brand,
type of saree, shop purchased, and some testing of the saree. One can test quality using
different methods such as by touch, ring test, shimmer check, and in case we have time, then a
lab test.

If you are a newbie in the silk world or a first-time silk saree buyer, I would suggest going for
Kanchipuram sarees on the first try. They are the best! However, Banrasi Katan is not far behind in the
race. If you do not know what is Banarasi Katan, you surely don’t want to miss it before we move
ahead. Banarasi Katan silk sarees or widely known as Banarasi silk are originally made in Varanasi,
India.

Which type of Silk Saree is best?

here are more than 30 types of silk saree available in India, so it’s all up to you. Like every state has
its own tradition, similarly, every state has its own variety of silk saree. As mentioned above, the
Banarasi saree is the most popular silk saree. Kanjeevaram silk sarees, Muga silk sarees, and
Baluchari silk sarees are also a well known ethnic choice for ladies.

You might be wondering; What are the top 5 silk saree types?

  • Banarasi Silk Saree (Varanasi)
  • Kanjeevaram Silk Saree (Tamil Nadu)
  • Patola Silk Saree (Patan, Gujrat)
  • Chanderi Silk Saree (Madhya Pradesh)
  • Muga Silk Saree (Assam)

These sarees are special ones for the fine fabric and pure silk threads. If you are a picky one, then you
will be satisfied with the wide variety and styles of Banarasi silk sarees.

So how to tell if the fabric is silk or polyester? The Burn Test would have surely helped you if you
were willing to sacrifice a bewitching silk saree without wearing it. Since I could not tear even a thread
from the graceful saree, I found a way around. As it is never going to be a case with you too, simpler
ways can be a saviour (for both you and the saree!). Testing the luster, weave, touch, and price may
do the trick but you have to look with an expert eye.

We often go for fancy motifs and appealing golden zari borders while discovering how to choose silk
saree. However, to find the difference between real and artificial silk, I went a step ahead and dug
out the answers. Today I am going to reveal some easy ways for you to know the saree you are
buying is real silk or fake silk. Read on to get your answers!

How To Identify Your Silk Saree For Good Quality

Touch the Saree

The touch test can be the easiest one to find the difference between real silk vs fake silk. But for this, I
am going to tell you what silk feels like. First of all, silk is soft (don’t confuse it with Satin) and when
you take it in your hands it will make a sound like walking on fresh snow. Another thing to keep in mind
is to rub the silk. If it changes the temperature and becomes warm, be assured that you are buying the
right one.

P.S- To find authentic Kanchipuram Sarees, check if they are slightly heavier. Also, look for the red
color when you scratch the zari.

Don’t fall for the appearance, do the test

Although to do the appearance test and identify synthetic silk vs natural silk on online shopping may
not be a cakewalk, but you can go ahead with this while window shopping. I bought a silk saree and it
perfectly fits my body shape and shimmers, fake silk on the other hand shines.

If you are doing window shopping, then take advantage of flashy lights in the shop to test genuine silk
saree. Silk has its own subtle pearlescent sheen so if you examine the cloth in the bright lights you will
see there is a shimmer of its own. Depending on how you hold the saree against the light, the color of
the shimmer will appear to vary.

Another important thing to notice is the fake silk tends to stiffen on the body, real silk on the other hand
is flowy and smooth, just like it is made for you! Take one more experienced advice, notice that the silk
threads are triangular whereas fake silk will have usual threads and weaving. The pure silk will also be
covered in a special protein called sericin.

Got a ring? Use it for testing

Your ring is not just decorative jewelry, but you can use it for better purposes. Testing the silk cloth
with a ring is one of the trivial yet effective ways.

If you are planning to buy a lightweight silk dress, you may take a ring and try to pull the fabric through
it.

Natural silk is light and flexible and easily gets through whereas artificial ones are heavier and wouldn’t
pass this test.

Expensive MAY be silk

You may often find sellers describing a fabric as silk while its price being cheaper as compared to
others. Keep in mind, buying silk is never easy on the pocket. You may fall for artificial silk or some
other cheap imitation of it just to save some money. Original silk needs tough labor to be extracted and
prepared to become a cloth in itself which makes it more expensive than others.

When it comes to silk, the Kanchipuram sarees are put on a throne and considered to be the superior
of all types of silk. The bewitching splendor of these can be witnessed in the first look, and this
resplendence costs you a fortune. The market is not as innocent as we think, so there’s no guarantee
for this method. Expensive may or may not be silk. But the cheap one is never going to be!

Go for a Lab Test

If you are still not satisfied with those informal tests suggested above, here’s one that you may formally
do in a science lab. As this test is not feasible, I neglected it, though it is always better to have some
extra knowledge. Put on your Einstein goggles and get started! For conducting this one, you will need
the following items:

  1. 10 g of copper sulphate (blue crystals)
  2. 5 g glycerine (thick transparent liquid)
  3. 1 tbsp. Caustic soda
  4. 100 Cc Water

Mix all of these in a beaker. The prepared solution will be aqueous blue in color due to the presence of
copper sulphate crystals. Then dip a small piece of fabric that you want to test in the prepared solution.
Natural fibers dissolve in acidic and basic solutions due to their high corrosive nature. If your silk is
genuine, it will dissolve within minutes. If it doesn’t, it’s not what you are looking for.

Burn test

This test, I would prefer the least as it includes damaging the cloth due to burning. Still, if you can
afford to do it or the showroom doesn’t mind it, you may test the cloth for its genuineness by burning a
part of it. Be very cautious while performing this. It can be dangerous!

Real silk burns with the smell of burning hair and leaves brittle ash after burning. As soon as you
remove the lighter, it stops burning. Artificial silk will smell like plastic and may not stop burning even if
you remove the flame. Polyester clothes, on the other hand, shine white if you watch them in the lights.
Irrespective of the position of cloth and lights.

Final Tidbits

Silk Sarees are adorned by all the women around the world, whether it a traditional occasion or an
office party, you can rock it with a silk saree. But, you won’t want to get fooled by buying a cheap fake
silk saree claimed as a high standard silk saree.

There are a dime and dozen silk saree sellers offline or online and picking the best one based only on
the saree design is like aiming to catch a whale in a fishbowl. Being extra cautious is the key. Test the
silk saree in no time and get the clarity of artificial silk vs natural silk. I used small tips and tricks and
can now boast of the splendor of my silk saree, and so you can!