7 Easy Ways to Identify a Pure Kanjivaram Silk Saree
Why This Matters
A Kanjivaram silk saree costs money. Real money. Brides, families, collectors — they all want the real one. Not a fake. Not a blended copy. So how do you know the difference? These seven ways will help.
Feel the Weight
Pure Kanjivaram silk is heavy. Thicker than any other silk. It holds. It drapes firm. Pick up the saree. It should feel weighty — 600 grams or more. Cheap blends feel light, thin, floppy.
A Kanjivaram never feels like georgette, chiffon, or soft silk. It holds its own.
Look at the Zari
Real Kanjivaram zari uses silver thread dipped in gold. It glows but not bright like plastic. Scratch gently — inside, you may spot red silk thread. Fake zari shows white or polyester thread.
Mavuri sarees use real tested zari. No false shine. No synthetic mix.
Check the Joint
Body and border of Kanjivaram sarees are woven separately. Then joined by hand. Look at the junction. The join is strong, visible, firm. This is called "korvai."
Fake sarees skip this. Machine-made ones print body and border together. No real join.
Burn Test — The Last Option
Pluck a tiny thread (from inner hem). Burn it.
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Pure silk smells like burnt hair.
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Polyester smells like plastic.
But do this only if allowed — on old sarees or with seller’s permission.
Price Tells
Kanjivaram is costly. A real one starts at Rs 8,000 to 10,000 and climbs high. Too cheap? Likely fake. Soft silk or polyester blends sell low.
Mavuri prices show this honesty. No impossible bargains.
BIS Hallmark
Check for the Silk Mark — issued by Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI). This mark proves pure silk. All genuine Kanjivaram sarees from Mavuri carry this.
No mark? Think twice.
The Drape Test
Drape the saree.
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A real Kanjivaram pleats sharp, stays firm.
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Blends slip, slide, collapse.
Real silk holds shape — looks crisp on shoulder, steady at pleats.
Other Signs
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Sound: Real silk rustles soft. Fakes are silent or noisy plastic.
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Border: Kanjivaram borders are heavy, thick, firm.
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Pallu: Pallu and body feel different — thicker pallu, tighter weave.
Why So Many Fakes?
Because Kanjivaram sells. Demand high. Supply slow — handloom needs time. So markets flood with mixed fabrics, machine work, cheap zari.
Mavuri refuses these. Real Kanjivaram only. Pure yarn, real zari, handwoven.
Caring for Your Kanjivaram
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Dry clean always
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Fold with tissue
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Air out every 3 months
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Store in muslin, not plastic
Good care keeps Kanjivaram 20 years or more.
Kanjivaram Vs Soft Silk
Soft Silk is light. Flows. Easy drape. Kanjivaram stands, shapes, stays.
Kanjivaram — thick, heavy, grand. Soft Silk — thin, soft, casual.
Price shows this gap.
What Mavuri Offers
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Certified pure silk only
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Real zari, silver tested
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Korvai joins by hand
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No polyester mix
Mavuri sarees feel honest — weight in hand, crisp pleats, gentle rustle. No plastic shine.
A pure Kanjivaram saree is not quiet. It holds weight. It holds shape. It holds value.
Know these seven ways. Touch. See. Check.
Buy wise. Buy real. Buy once.
