Saree
This Is How Much A Pure Silk Saree Will Cost You
Silk sarees are the most prized possession in a woman’s wardrobe. Much like others, I love investing in pure silk sarees and enhancing my closet further. When it comes to purchasing these ravishing sarees, an appropriate budget allocation seems like a tedious task. Often, ladies approach me to get an estimation on the price of different types of pure silk sarees.
So, I decided to ease out your dilemma, and present you with an ultimate guide on the cost of pure silk sarees in physical and online stores.
How much does a pure silk saree cost? The cost of pure silk sarees begins from INR 2,000 and goes up to around INR 40,00,000 for the extra luxurious apparel. Some pure silk saree varieties like the Tussar silk are inexpensive and cost around INR 2,000-4,000. On the other hand, the simplest of the costly Kanjivaram pure silk sarees comes around INR 7,000. If you wish to have more intense Zari-work on a Kanjivaram saree, you will need to spend up to even several lakhs.
What is Pure Silk?
Before unveiling the detailed silk saree cost guide, let me enlighten you with what is pure silk. Pure silk is a natural fiber, produced by silkworms. Being a worm-made product, the pure silk fibers are non-vegan and prone to decomposing naturally if left untreated. These fibers are processed to wash off the protein coating and woven to prepare the pure silk fabrics. Popular silk sarees like Kanjivaram and Banarasi are made from processed silk fabrics having a better shelf-life.
Types of Pure Silk Sarees
To get the best cost estimation, you need to know about the types of pure silk sarees available in the market. Most of the states in India have their variation to pure silk sarees. Such modifications have led to producing about 26 types of pure silk sarees for all the beautiful ladies. Following are the most popular kinds of pure silk sarees.
- Kanjivaram Silk Sarees
- Banarasi Silk Sarees
- Tussar Silk Sarees
- Mysore Silk Sarees
- Bhagalpuri Silk Sarees
- Chanderi Silk Sarees
- Konrad Silk Sarees
- Thanchoi Silk Sarees
- Bandhani Silk Sarees
- Paithani Silk Sarees
- Patola Silk Sarees
- Baluchari Silk Sarees
Why Are Silk Sarees Expensive?
From the very primitive days, silk sarees are an emblem for the higher section of the society. Rich women and renowned figurines used to house expensive silk attires in their closets from the very beginning. Even now, you cannot run away from paying a large amount to buy a silk saree from online and physical stores. Ever wondered why silk sarees are so expensive? There are two primary reasons for the massive price range.
Natural Fibers
As you know that pure silk is a natural fiber secreted by silkworms, rearing and extracting silk from these worms is an expensive phenomenon. When in raw form, these natural silk fibers are coated with a coarse protein. Before weaving a pure silk fabric, the raw fibers are well-processed to remove the protein coating.
Handcrafted Garments
Silk sarees belong to Indian handicrafts. Established artisan families have been creating these masterpieces through generations. From handweaving to threadwork, it takes about 3-4 months to complete a single piece for the handcrafters. Such an extensive effort is bound to raise the saree prices at all stores.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Silk Sarees
Besides the above stated generalized points, there are even more factors affecting the silk saree price. Though all silk sarees are costly, some of them are even expensive and luxurious. Are you wondering what increases the cost of silk sarees? Here are the factors which affect the price of these divine silk sarees.
Material of Sarees
Material imposes a large influence on the cost of silk sarees. The raw silk varieties are costlier than blended silk fabrics. The rayon-made art silk sarees are inexpensive mostly. On the other hand, pure silk sarees are natural fibers having a higher price tag.
Weight
The authenticity and price are often derived from the weight of silk sarees. With more detailed designs, a saree is likely to boast more gold threadwork, increasing the weight of the saree. So, a heavy-weight silk garment will cost you more than a light-weight one.
Types
The types of silk sarees determine their cost considerably. Artisans create various kinds of pure silk sarees differently. Some entail a dense Zari work, while some have a lighter Karigari on them. Simple varieties like the Tussar silk sarees are way more inexpensive than their Kanjivaram and Banarasi counterparts.
Borders and Pallu Karigari
Brocade borders and pallu-work are integral in raising the cost of pure silk sarees. Dense Karigari takes more time to complete than the spare silk saree threadwork. The more intricate detailing on the borders and pallu, the more is the cost of the silk sarees.
Saree Body Design
Much like the borders, you will come across a price hike with detailed Karigari on silk saree bodies. Generally, the plain, chequered, and temple design silk sarees will cost you less than those with dense flora and fauna motifs.
How Much Does a Pure Silk Saree Cost?
An artisan spends more time creating a detailed silk saree than a plain one. The price of a pure silk saree depends on the type that you are going to buy. Even in a specific silk saree variety, the price will vary according to the designs, saree material, and threadwork. So, let’s break down the cost of different silk sarees in a single place. Here, you will also find a summarized table of types of pure silk sarees with price.
| Types of Pure Silk Sarees | Addendums | Average Price (INR) |
| Kanjivaram Sarees | Temple Motifs and Stripes | 7,500 |
| Mysore Silk Sarees | Festive wear | 4,500 |
| Banarasi | Party Wear | 11,908 |
| Bridal Wear | 12,800 | |
| Paithani Silk Saree | Party wear | 19,000 |
| Tussar Silk Sarees | Routine wear | 2,000 |
| Chanderi Silk Sarees | Party wear | 4,000 |
Find below links that we though as best silk sarees found online on Amazon.
| Types of Pure Silk Sarees | Amazon.in Saree Links | Amazon.com Saree Links |
| Kanjivaram Sarees | Click here | Click here |
| Mysore Silk Sarees | Click here | Click here |
| Banarasi | Click here | Click here |
| Click here | Click here | |
| Paithani Silk Saree | Click here | Click here |
| Tussar Silk Sarees | Click here | Click here |
| Chanderi Silk Sarees | Click here | Click here |
Find below online links for sarees on Flipkart or Myntra.
| Types of Pure Silk Sarees | Flipkart/Myntra Saree Links |
| Kanjivaram Sarees | Flipkart |
| Mysore Silk Sarees | Myntra |
| Banarasi | Myntra |
| Myntra | |
| Paithani Silk Saree | Myntra |
| Tussar Silk Sarees | Myntra |
| Chanderi Silk Sarees | Myntra |
Kanjivaram Silk Sarees
Kanjivaram silk sarees are the pride of South India. Their sheen and softness win over hearts and territories. Also known as Kanchipuram sarees, these are among the most gorgeous and expensive silk sarees available in the market. Generally, the simplest Kanjivaram real silk saree price averages around INR 7,500. But some exceptional sarees may even cost as high as INR 40 lakhs!
The Kanjivaram sarees having temple designs and stripes are a bit inexpensive than the Butidar counterparts. As the Zari-work gets trickier, the saree prices keep rising continuously. Kanchipuram sarees with animals and flower motifs fall on the higher price points mostly.
Banarasi Silk Sarees
Banarasi silk sarees are the renowned wedding fabrics in India. These are widely available and have a price range of INR 5,000-30,000. Depending upon the Karigari on the sarees, the price points vary considerably. A detailed border and pallu take more artisan effort and time to get completed. On the other hand, a plain Banarasi saree gets finished in a short span. So, the former are kept at higher prices than the simple ones.
Chanderi Silk Sarees
Chanderi sarees are yet another fascinating silk sarees from India. Much like any other silk sarees, the price range of Chanderi varies with the Karigari and threadwork. While plain Chanderi silk sarees cost a bit cheaper, the embroidered Chanderi sarees are luxurious and expensive. On average, you might have to allocate a budget of INR 3,000-20,000 for purchasing a genuine Chanderi silk saree for yourself.
Paithani Silk Sarees
Belonging to Maharashtra, Paithani silk sarees are an integral attire in every Marathi household. The price of Paithani silk sarees varies with the weaving technique and body designing. More precisely, the more effort given to produce a Paithani, the more is its price range. Generally, you will be spending anywhere between INR 10,000-70,000 to purchase an original Paithani silk saree.
Mysore Silk Sarees
There are millions of Mysore silk saree followers in India. The decent designs and sober appearance of these silk sarees make it a favorite attire in a lady’s wardrobe. If you are willing to purchase an authentic Mysore silk saree, you might have to assign a budget of INR 3,000-7,000. Depending on the material and Karigari of Mysore silk sarees, the prices can go as high as INR 2,00,000 even.
Which Silk Saree is Most Expensive and What Causes it to be Expensive?
If you have a knack for owning expensive silk sarees in your closet, then you should be aware of the most luxurious silk saree variety available in the market. Mostly, the silk sarees cost more than other saree fabrics. However, the Kanjivaram silk saree is the most expensive variety in the Indian market. Surprisingly, the priciest silk saree is the Kanjivaram variety named Vivaah Patu which costs a whopping INR 40,00,000.
Kanjivaram silk sarees are the most gorgeous attires and take massive efforts to get prepared. Other silk saree varieties are way lighter and less-detailed than the Kanjivaram silk sarees. Unlike silk saree types like the Tussar, Kanjivaram silk sarees have an irresistible glaze and a well-polished surface. All of these factors sum up to hike the Kanjivaram pure silk saree price ranges.
Where Can I Find Cheap Pure Silk Sarees Offline in India?
After guiding you on silk sarees online shopping with price, let me reveal the best way to find genuine silk sarees at offline stores in India. Being the birthplace of silk sarees, Indian women are crazy behind these royal ensembles. Consequently, there are multiple hubs in India to find silk sarees at attractive price ranges and varieties. Remember that silk saree prices increase with more number of middlemen. So, if you want to buy the cheapest yet premium silk sarees, you should visit their place of origin.
Other than this, if you want to buy locally in major metro cities in India, you can visit whole markets in Chandni Chowk in Delhi, Meena Bazaar or wholesale markets in Old City of Hyderabad, Ulhas Nagara or Dadar East in Mumbai, T-Nagar and several places in Chennai. Also most famous in India for wholesale saree markets is Surat.
Kanjivaram sarees originate from Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. So, you will get the best saree price from the house of weavers and local showrooms. Similarly, Banarasi sarees belong to Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. You are more likely to get authentic and inexpensive deals on Banarasi sarees in the city itself. Much like these two iconic sarees, you can avail of attractive deals on other silk sarees by purchasing them from the artisans directly.
Investing in silk sarees is an attractive decision only if you are well aware of the general price ranges. Sometimes, due to a lack of knowledge, women end up paying more for a cheaper silk saree. Get abreast of the common price estimations, and save yourself from ignorant cheating and frauds that are prevalent in the market.
