Your Privacy is Important to us

We encourage you to review our Terms of Service, and Privacy Policy.

By continuing, you agree to the Terms listed here. In case you want to opt out, please click "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" link in the footer of this page.

Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information

We won't sell or share your personal information to inform the ads you see. You may still see interest-based ads if your information is sold or shared by other companies or was sold or shared previously.

Continue on TOI App
Open App
Login for better experience!
Login Now
Welcome! to timesofindia.com
TOI INDTOI USTOI GCC
TOI+
  • Home
  • Live
  • TOI Games
  • Top Headlines
  • India
  • City News
  • Photos
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Entertainment
  • Movie Reviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Podcasts
  • Elections
  • Web Series
  • Sports
  • TV
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Events
  • World
  • Music
  • Astrology
  • Videos
  • Tech
  • Auto
  • Education
  • Log Out
Follow Us On
Open App
  • ETIMES
  • CINEMA
  • VIDEOS
  • TV
  • LIFESTYLE
  • VISUAL STORIES
  • MUSIC
  • TRAVEL
  • FOOD
  • TRENDING
  • EVENTS
  • THEATRE
  • PHOTOS
  • MOVIE REVIEWS
  • MOVIE LISTINGS
  • HEALTH
  • RELATIONSHIP
  • WEB SERIES
  • BOX OFFICE

How to check if a silk saree is real or fake

etimes.in | Last updated on - May 20, 2025, 16:00 IST
Comments
Share
1/9

Silk saree test at home



Genuine silk sarees are a legacy and an investment. They are classic representations of style, custom, and Indian artistry. However, with so many imitations and dupes on the market, it gets easier to be tricked into paying the same price for a phony silk saree. Understanding the difference between genuine silk and a faux silk synthetic fabric will help you avoid disappointment and save money, regardless of your level of experience with sarees. Here's how to determine whether a silk saree is real or fake:

2/9

Perform the thread burn test at home in a safe manner



The burn test is one of the most accurate methods for evaluating genuine silk. Take a tiny piece of thread from the saree's inner edge and burn it carefully (with the right measures).

Real silk leaves behind a crumbling, black, crunchy residue and smells like burned hair.

Fake silk, typically made of polyester or nylon, leaves behind a hard, circular bead and smells like burned plastic.

3/9

Check the texture by touch



To the touch, real silk is smooth, rich, and soft. There's a small warmth when you rub it between your fingertips. Artificial silk lacks the warmth and natural texture of real silk and frequently feels chilly, slippery, or too smooth.

4/9

Smell the fabric's scent



Particularly when slightly damp, pure silk has a delicate, organic scent. The smell of synthetic sarees is frequently plasticky or chemical.

5/9

Test the sound by rubbing it



Use another piece of fabric or your fingers to rub the saree. The subtle crunching or rustling sound produced by pure silk is frequently referred to as "silk music." Fake silk typically produces a flat, artificial sound or remains silent.

6/9

Look at the saree under light



Hold the saree up to the light and watch how the color changes. When viewed from different angles, real silk's ability to reflect light reveals two different colors. No matter how you look at it, fake silk always looks the same hue or dull.

7/9

Examine the zari and weave work



Zari, or gold thread, is constructed with actual silver or gold-plated threads, and the weave of handwoven silk sarees is frequently a little irregular. On the back, genuine zari won't have loose nylon or plastic threads, which are typical of imitation sarees.

8/9

Check for the Silk Mark certification



Looking for the Silk Mark tag, which is provided by the Silk Mark Organization of India (SMOI), is the easiest method to verify authenticity. The saree's use of genuine natural silk is ensured by this official certification.

9/9

Cost may serve as a hint



Pure silk sarees are far more costly because of the work, materials, and creativity required, yet this isn't always the case. A "silk" saree is probably synthetic or a combination if it looks abnormally inexpensive.

By keeping these methods in mind, you may make sure you're paying for genuine craftsmanship These powerful methods of authenticity verification of silk will always help you purchase silk responsibly.

Start a Conversation

Post comment
Featured In lifestyle
  • 7 everyday etiquettes every parent should teach their children from an early age
  • From Zomato deliveries to a top Delhi B-school: Haryana man’s comeback story is going viral
  • Chinese proverb of the day: “You cannot prevent the birds of sadness from passing over your head, but you can prevent their...”
  • Maya Angelou's wise words: 10 powerful quotes on love and life
  • Optical illusion personality test: Lion, gorilla, tree or birds? What you see first reveals if you are logical, deep thinker, bold, or adaptable
  • Could excessive screen time be quietly damaging your brain? Neurologists explain the hidden risk of cognitive decline
  • Quote of the day for kids by Dr. Seuss: "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can..."
  • Love quote of the day by Jane Austen: “A woman is not to marry a man merely because..."
  • Spanish proverb of the day: “Better to love an old man who knows what is love, and not love a lad, who…” — what this proverb reveals about attraction versus understanding
Photostories
  • 7 everyday etiquettes every parent should teach their children from an early age
  • Mrunal Thakur just made mint green the main character of festive fashion this year
  • Harmanpreet Kaur traded blue jersey energy for elegant desi glam at the Padma Awards 2026
  • Top 2026 romance teen dramas that are book adaptations: From 'Off Campus' to 'Love Hypothesis'
  • Why does your hair feel so rough and frizzy in summer? 7 very common habits that are damaging it
  • What's inside the world's top 10 airports? See what's got travellers' attention
  • Love quote of the day by Jane Austen: “A woman is not to marry a man merely because..."
  • Hospital anxiety? These 5 words often make it worse
  • 5 common reasons for hair thinning in women and 5 natural ways to fix it at home
Explore more Stories
  • 5
    Harmanpreet Kaur traded blue jersey energy for elegant desi glam at the Padma Awards 2026
  • 11
    What's inside the world's top 10 airports? See what's got travellers' attention
  • 5
    Mrunal Thakur just made mint green the main character of festive fashion this year
  • 5
    Why Mira Kapoor’s acupuncture beauty routine is going viral
  • 5
    Ranveer Singh’s stylish appearance at Chamundeshwari temple amid the ‘Don 3’ controversy has fans reading between the lines
Up Next
  • ETimes
  • /
  • Life & Style
  • /
  • Fashion
  • /
  • Style Guide
  • /
  • How to check if a silk saree is real or fake
About UsTerms Of UsePrivacy PolicyCookie Policy

Copyright © May 27, 2026, 12.59AM IST Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service