What Really Goes Into Making a Silk Saree. Lets explore how silk sarees are made
A silk saree looks smooth, rich, and complete when you see it in a shop. But the way it’s made is slow, careful, and full of real human effort. Every part — from thread to finished fabric — involves small steps done with skill. Here’s how it happens.
Step 1: Silk Cocoons
It starts with silk cocoons. Farmers raise silkworms that feed on mulberry leaves. After weeks, the worms spin cocoons made of a fine silk thread. These are collected carefully — without damaging the thread inside.
Step 2: Boiling the Cocoons
The cocoons are boiled in water to loosen the silk threads. This also kills the pupa inside, which stops it from breaking the thread. A single cocoon gives one long silk filament. Each filament is very thin — so several are twisted together to make stronger silk yarn.
Step 3: Reeling the Silk
Reeling means pulling these thin filaments into threads. Workers reel silk by hand or with machines, winding the threads onto bobbins. This silk yarn is what will become the saree’s fabric.
Step 4: Dyeing the Yarn
The raw silk yarn is dyed into bright colours. Dyeing is done before weaving so the colour stays even. Some parts, like the pallu or border, may be dyed separately if they need special shades. Dyers soak the yarn in hot dye baths, then dry it carefully.
Step 5: Warping the Loom
Warping is the process of setting up the loom with lengthwise threads (warp). This takes hours, sometimes days. Each thread must be placed correctly, according to the saree’s pattern. Mistakes here spoil the whole weave.
Step 6: Weaving the Saree
Weaving starts. The weaver passes the crosswise threads (weft) through the warp, row by row. Designs are formed by changing colours and raising or lowering threads. Simple sarees take 4–5 days. Complex ones, like Kanchivarams, need 10–20 days.
Step 7: Adding Zari
If the saree has zari — gold or silver thread — this is woven along with the silk. Real zari is costly and heavy. It’s carefully placed into borders, motifs, and pallus as the weaving happens. The weaver follows a pattern drawn on graph paper.
Step 8: Cutting and Finishing
Once the fabric is done, the saree is cut to size — 5.5 or 6 metres. Extra threads are trimmed. The edges are hemmed. The saree is washed, starched, and ironed for the final smooth finish. Some are sent for polishing or softening depending on the silk type.
Step 9: Quality Check
Every saree is checked for loose threads, holes, colour flaws, or missed patterns. Quality control matters, especially for pure silk and designer sarees. Only perfect ones reach showrooms.
What Makes Each Saree Different
Even with the same steps, no two silk sarees are exactly alike. Differences come from:
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Type of silk used (mulberry, Tussar, Eri)
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Zari quality (real silver or imitation)
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Handloom vs power loom
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Design complexity
Handloom sarees are always slower and costlier but have better texture and weight.
Why Pure Silk Costs More
Pure silk sarees use natural fibre without blends. They feel heavier, drape better, and last longer. The dye holds richer colour. The zari stays bright. Blended sarees — with polyester or art silk — cost less but don’t have the same look or life.
Mavuri’s Role in Silk Sarees
Mavuri offers sarees made from pure silk saree, real zari, and skilled weaving. Each piece comes from trusted weavers who follow these exact steps. The result: sarees that feel real, look strong, and last for years.
From Cocoon to Closet
A silk saree travels far before reaching the buyer. From silkworm farms to boiling vats, from dye houses to weaving sheds, from hand finishing to shop shelves — each saree is touched by many hands. Each step adds value, care, and beauty.
That’s why silk sarees stay special — and why they cost more than factory-made fabric. The difference is real, and clear when you wear it.
