Why Karnataka’s famous Mysuru silk saree could disappear from online stores

The iconic Mysuru silk saree has been one of the most renowned and celebrated handwoven textiles of India. But it may soon face an unexpected shift in how it is sold; despite growing demand, Karnataka authorities are planning to consider a pause on online sales. This has sparked debate among weavers, saree lovers, and fashion enthusiasts. But why this sudden change?

According to the Financial Express, the state's sericulture minister, K. Venkatesh, told the state assembly that KSIC makes around 400 sarees daily, which has made it easy for people online to grab these sarees. But locally, the supply has reduced because of the unlimited online orders. So, the plan is to ban or limit the online orders for a while and give priority to the people who are physically visiting the outlets.

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Mysuru silk sarees are widely known for their beautiful sheen, quality and craftsmanship. They are crafted from pure mulberry silk and woven with gold zari and stunning silver threads. The sarees also carry a GI, i.e., geographical indication, which highlights the state’s heritage, culture, and authenticity. KSIC has been producing these sarees since 1912, making it one of the most renowned textiles from Karnataka.

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KSIC manufactures around 400 sarees a day. In the past three years, the corporation sold around 3.1 lakh sarees, with only 1,000 drapes remaining unsold, indicating strong market demand. Once production levels improve and the supply chain stabilises, online sales will resume; credit goes to the high quality and traditional weaving technique.

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The KSIC’s managing director raised concerns that construction of a stadium on the factory's 5-acre premises would disrupt the water supply lines to the silk factory’s extraction unit. Now, the government has dropped this decision, seeing the demand for the sarees, as long queues were seen outside KSIC’s outlets across the state, and that was just the second sales duration.

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