Identify
Imitation versions of Silk and Handloom products are flooded in the market, and we strictly stand against such practices. Here are some tips from Himagauri to help you identify real v/s fake.
Silk, ‘the queen of all fabrics’, is known for its exceptional qualities such as luxurious softness, lustrous beauty, and perfect draping. Here are a few tests that will help you identify real silk-
- Touch- Rubbing gently between your fingertips, pure silk feels nice and warm with pleasure. This warmth is irritating on your fingertips, in artificial silk.
- Soft glow- Natural silk glows elegantly like a pearl. The structure of fibroin of pure silk diffuses light, thus giving it the appearance of changing color as the angle of light changes. Artificial silk can be identified with its constant white sheen, no matter what is the angle to light.
- Odor- When burnt, pure silk smells like burnt hair, whereas artificial silk smells like burnt plastic or gives you a smell of Petroleum.
- Burn- Pure silk stops burning as soon as the flame is removed, whereas artificial silk continues to burn even after the flame has been removed. This can be tested by taking a single yarn and lighting it with a matchstick.
- Age- Pure silk is unaffected when put to test of time, whereas artificial silk begins to fade over time and lose its charm.
Handloom v/s Powerloom:
A hand-woven garment can be identified with minor irregularities in the weave, adding to its unique form. Whereas, machine woven fabrics can be identified by their flawlessness as well as even texture. Needless to say, machine woven fabrics lack the allure and character that a handwoven fabric brings.
A hand-woven fabric can also be differentiated from a machine woven fabric by looking at the edges of the fabrics. One can notice pinholes in a handwoven saree as handwoven sarees are usually woven by being pinned to the loom.
Furthermore, there are certain unique techniques that are only possible in the handwoven textiles. An example of this is the kadwa(Kadhua) weave, that hasn’t been replicated on the power loom yet.