Caring for Handloom Silk Sarees: A Complete Guide

Why Handloom Silk Deserves Special Care

A handloom silk saree is not fast fashion — it is a textile that may have taken weeks or months to weave. With the right care, it will outlast trends, seasons, and decades. Passed down through generations, a well-maintained silk saree only grows more beautiful with time.

Here is everything you need to know to keep your handloom silks in pristine condition.

Washing

Dry cleaning is safest for pure silk

For Banarasi, Kanjivaram, and zari-heavy sarees, dry cleaning is the recommended method. The metallic threads in zari borders are particularly vulnerable to water and detergent.

Hand washing for lighter silks

Tussar silk, modal silk, and lighter Jamdani weaves can be hand washed with care:

• Use cold water only — never hot or warm
• Use a mild, pH-neutral detergent or a dedicated silk wash
• Do not soak for more than 5 minutes
• Gently squeeze — never wring or twist the fabric
• Rinse thoroughly until the water runs clear

Machine washing: avoid it

Even on a delicate cycle, machine washing can damage the weave structure and cause colour bleeding in handloom silks. We strongly advise against it.

Drying

• Never dry silk in direct sunlight — UV exposure fades colour and weakens fibres
• Lay flat on a clean cotton towel or hang in shade
• Do not use a tumble dryer
• Iron on a low setting while slightly damp, on the reverse side, with a pressing cloth between the iron and the fabric

Storage

• Wrap in muslin or cotton — never store silk in plastic, which traps moisture and causes yellowing
• Refold periodically — change the fold lines every few months to prevent permanent creases
• Use neem leaves or cedar — natural moth repellents that won’t damage the fabric the way chemical mothballs can
• Store separately — keep silk sarees away from synthetic fabrics to prevent static and fibre damage

Handling Stains

Act quickly but gently. Blot (never rub) the stain with a clean white cloth. For stubborn stains, take the saree to a professional dry cleaner and identify the stain type — oil, food, or ink — so they can treat it correctly.

Shop Our Handloom Collections

Invest in a saree worth caring for:

• Tussar Silk — naturally textured, earthy, and effortlessly elegant
• Banarasi Warm Silk Edit — rich zari weaves for celebrations
• Elite Silks — heirloom-quality silks crafted to last a lifetime