Identifying Authenticity

Paithanis from Yeola, Maharashtra are opulent and expensive sarees that continue to primarily feature traditional designs and motifs. Nowadays however, they are mainly woven with tested zari, which is stiff and tarnishes easily. It lacks the brilliance, flexibility, and durability of real zari and offers no resale value. Although, the luxurious and lustrous Paithani sarees from Paithan, Maharashtra contain real zari, they cost considerably more than their highly expensive Yeola counterparts. Please note, that SónChiraiya neither crafts nor carries any of these Paithani sarees. Inspired by the original Paithanis, but quite different in their own right, SónChiraiya’s Ektara real zari Paithani sarees were developed by our founder, Mrs. Preety Singh Pareek, in tandem with our legacy master artisans. After closely studying all aspects of the widely available Paithani sarees and recognizing the need for innovation to offer more variety and options, a fabric similar to silk by silk was developed. This was accomplished using the Ektara weaving technique, real silk yarns, and real gold and silver zari yarns. Hence, our Paithanis are luxurious, lustrous, and comparatively lightweight than their counterparts. They feature exclusive limited-edition designs and motifs, as they are crafted with the aim to offer a wider range of variety and options, while retaining the essence of the original Paithani. A true testimony to their intricacy and exquisiteness is that even our most skilled and seasoned weavers are able to produce only two or three sarees each year. SónChiraiya’s Ektara real Zari Paithani heirloom sarees, woven using real zari yarns, offer great value for money and resale value. 

Powerloom replication of zari Kota sarees is rampant. However, using the following tell-tale indications it is quite easy to tell counterfeit and authentic handloom zari Kota sarees apart.    No loose threads In genuine handloom sarees no loose threads appear behind motifs, as they are neatly woven in without any excess left behind. After weaving, powerloom sarees have leftover fake zari yarns behind their motifs. These loose yarns may come apart with a slight pull.    Quite lightweight Zari Kota and Kota doria are diaphanous fabrics. Hence, despite the extensive use of real 1gm gold zari, our sarees are quite lightweight. Conversely, counterfeit sarees are heavier due to the use of rigid fake zari.  Smaller khats In authentic handloom zari Kota sarees the signature check pattern or khats are compact and may have negligible irregularities. Whereas, their powerloom counterparts feature a larger and uniform check pattern.    GI Mark All real zari Kota handloom sarees crafted in Kota bear the official Kota doria GI mark. Powerloom sarees bear no such mark, since it is illegal to replicate in counterfeit sarees. Longer weaving duration Based on the design nuances, weaving of an authentic handloom zari Kota saree from start to finish takes around 2-7 months. Whereas, a powerloom can produce 15 or more zari Kota sarees in a single day.      Certificate of authenticity Each SónChiraiya zari Kota saree comes with its own certificate of authenticity. This may not be the case with powerloom sarees.  Now that you know exactly what to look for, we hope you find both the authentic zari Kota sarees of your dreams and your money’s worth.  

Before you invest your hard-earned money in a luxury handloom zari Kota saree, here are 5 ways to test zari to identify real zari, avoid fake zari, and purchase only superior quality real zari sarees. The kasauti test Like real gold, rubbing real gold zari on a kasauti or natural obsidian leaves behind a trace of gold. Fake zari is unable to do so.   The touch test Fake zari is stiff, real zari is soft and pliable. The scratch test When scratched, fake zari disintegrates, real zari is metallic, and hence resistant to scratches. The nitric acid test Unlike real zari, any traces of fake zari left behind on a kasauti, dissolve with a few drops of nitric acid. The burn test Fake zari can be burned, real zari cannot.