Varanasi — famous for banarasi silk sarees and brocades

The story

Banaras brocade weaving is one of India's best-known handloom traditions, with gold and silver zari woven into silk on handlooms. The craft is concentrated in weaver neighbourhoods of the city and nearby villages, and much of the work is done by families on looms at home. In recent decades many weavers have moved to powerlooms, while handloom sarees remain the premium end of the trade.

In numbers

The Rs 300 crore Deendayal Hastkala Sankul, a trade facilitation centre and crafts museum for Varanasi handlooms and handicrafts, was dedicated to the nation on 22 September 2017.
PIB (Ministry of Textiles): Prime Minister dedicates Deendayal Hastkala Sankul to the Nation · 2017
Ten block-level handloom clusters were sanctioned in Varanasi at a total project cost of Rs 7.89 crore, covering 4,129 weavers.
PIB (Ministry of Textiles): Welfare Schemes for Weavers of Varanasi · 2017
Nine Common Facility Centres with Common Service Centres were set up in Varanasi to provide training, yarn, dyeing, warping and IT-enabled services; more than 21,000 persons had benefited.
PIB (Ministry of Textiles): Welfare Schemes for Weavers of Varanasi · 2017

GI tag

Banaras Brocades and SareesApplication no. GI Application No. 99; Registration No. 110GI Registry, IP India - Application 99: Banaras Brocades and Sarees

Ways in for a newcomer

Design and jacquard card or digital design services for weavers
Online and direct-to-customer saree sales with GI proof
Yarn, zari and dyeing supply to weavers
Saree finishing, polishing and packing as job work

Problems the cluster faces

Cheap powerloom and imitation 'Banarasi' sarees from elsewhere
Low earnings push handloom weavers out
Rising silk yarn and zari prices
Weavers depend on master traders for orders and credit

Businesses to start here

Banarasi Silk Saree Weaving →Zari and Silk Embroidery →Saree Dyeing and Printing →Saree Rolling and Polishing →Handloom and Handicrafts Retail Shop →

Sources (5)