Handloom Certification | Priyaodisha.com
Handloom Certification & Authenticity
At Priyadarshini Handloom, every saree, dress material and stole we offer is genuine handloom — woven by hand on traditional looms by weaver families across Odisha. This page explains the marks and protections that help buyers identify authentic hand-woven Indian textiles, and how we ensure that what reaches you is the real thing.
The Handloom Mark — assurance of genuine hand-weaving
The Handloom Mark, introduced by the Government of India, is a national assurance that a fabric has been genuinely woven by hand on a handloom, rather than produced on a power loom or mill. It was created to help shoppers distinguish authentic hand-woven cloth from machine-made imitations and to protect the livelihoods of India's weaving communities.
For a buyer, the spirit of the Handloom Mark is simple: it signals true craftsmanship, where every metre of fabric carries the rhythm, slight irregularities and individuality that come only from human hands at the loom. These small, natural variations are not flaws — they are the signature of authentic handloom.
The Silk Mark — assurance of pure silk
The Silk Mark, administered by the Silk Mark Organisation of India under the Central Silk Board, is a quality assurance label for products made of pure, natural silk. Because silk is often blended with or substituted by artificial fibres, the Silk Mark exists to reassure buyers that a fabric described as silk is genuinely natural silk.
Many of our finest pieces, including traditional Sambalpuri silk sarees, are woven in pure silk. Where a fabric is a silk-cotton blend or pure cotton, we describe it honestly so you always know exactly what you are buying.
Geographical Indication (GI) tags — protecting Odisha's regional weaves
A Geographical Indication (GI) tag is a form of legal protection given to products that originate from a specific region and possess qualities, a reputation or characteristics rooted in that place. For handloom, a GI tag protects a traditional weave so that it can be authentically associated only with the region and community that have practised that craft for generations.
Odisha is home to several celebrated GI-protected handloom traditions, including:
- Sambalpuri / Sambalpuri Ikat (Bandha) — the renowned tie-dye bandha weave of western Odisha, where yarns are dyed before weaving to create intricate, blurred-edge motifs.
- Bomkai (Sonepuri) — known for its richly woven borders, contrasting pallu and distinctive thread work.
- Kotpad — naturally dyed cotton woven by tribal communities, coloured with the aal (madder) root for its characteristic deep maroon and earthy tones.
- Khandua (Maniabandha / Nuapatna) — the traditional ikat silk associated with Odisha's temple heritage, including sarees historically linked to ritual use.
For you as a buyer, a GI-protected weave means the design tradition you are purchasing is recognised, place-specific and authentic — not a generic reproduction. It honours the weaver community that originated the craft and helps preserve these living traditions for future generations.
How Priyadarshini Handloom ensures authenticity
We source directly from traditional weaver communities across Odisha, working closely with the families who create these textiles by hand. By building long-standing relationships at the source, we can stand behind the origin and the making of every piece we sell.
- Every piece we offer is genuine handloom, woven by hand on traditional looms.
- We work directly with Odisha's weaver communities, supporting the artisans behind each design tradition.
- We describe each product honestly — its fabric, weave and tradition — so you can buy with confidence.
- Country of origin: India.
Because each saree is hand-woven, natural variations in colour, texture and motif are normal and expected. They are part of the beauty and authenticity of handloom, and a sign that no two pieces are ever exactly alike.
Have a question about authenticity?
If you would like to know more about the weave, fabric or origin of a particular piece, we are always happy to help. You can write to us at hello@priyaodisha.com or call +91 89175 05059. You may also contact us with any authenticity queries, or visit our FAQs for answers to common questions.