Why are Handloom Sarees so Expensive?

Reasons for Handloom Sarees to be expensive

Sandip Kr. Das
New Writers Welcome
3 min readJun 18, 2022

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Handloom sarees
Photo by ANKUR MADAN on Unsplash

All of us adore our favourite handloom sarees!

Every handloom silk saree is outstanding, made of luminous silk or feather-light cotton. This beautiful designer saree is embedded with the innovation of every skilled craftsman.

But many people do not understand the importance of handloom and frequently ask this question. ‘Why is handloom so costly?’

Handloom Sarees, Fabrics, and Textiles are as valuable as any work of art. These exquisite pieces require a year of hard work and dedication to create.

These Handmade pieces result from the talented artisans’ sweat and blood. Without a doubt, every finely crafted handloom piece always comes out on top creatively over the machine-made.

However, we are aware that they are slightly more expensive than other machine-made sarees. However, this is due to the time and skill required to weave a saree and the craftsman’s hard work and effort.

Here’s why handloom sarees are more expensive but absolutely worth it:

Time required for weaving

Due to the required depth, complexity, and accuracy, handloom fabrics take time to weave. Machine-made fabrics or fabrics made on power looms take about 2–3 hours.

A power loom machine can produce a silk saree in just two hours. On the other hand, a complete saree can take anywhere between 2 to 20 years to weave by an Odisha craftsperson, depending on the texture and design. An incorrect knot can negatively affect an entire design, possibly ruining the whole saree.

handloom silk saree
Photo by Bella Pon Fruitsia on Unsplash

Labour

These pure handloom sarees and fabrics are woven on a very tiny scale by skilled craftsmen in small villages and towns where the art is recognised as indigenous.

These incredibly gifted individuals dedicate their lives to creating extraordinary works. When you carry a handloom saree next time, remember that you are holding generations of tradition, culture, and art.

Sustainability

The textile industry is the second-largest contributor to pollution overall. Fast fashion has contributed to polluted rivers and streams, tons of solid waste, and countless emission impacts.

On the other hand, a handwoven piece can last 20–50 years if proper care is taken, and sustainable raw fabrics are not harmful to anyone. Hand Looming decreases the risk of environmental damage in every way. It is the most long-lasting and dependable art form.

handwoven tussar silk sarees
Photo by sagar shrestha on Unsplash

Natural raw materials

Chemically processed raw materials can be harmful in a variety of ways. Almost every artisan prefers natural raw resources and dyes to cheap, chemical-filled raw materials.

These low-cost materials damage the climate, environment, and skin. In hot weather, it is hard to wear these low-cost materials. The advantage of wearing pure Handloom is that the sarees are lightweight, and even non-saree wearers can spend the entire day in a handwoven saree.

Transportation And Retailers

We know that buying a handloom saree straight from the manufacturer usually results in a lower price. This is because the retail chain or middleman adds taxes and transportation costs to the price of the handloom saree.

The commissions for brokers or intermediaries associated with the process are also considered before determining the product price. This is why many people prefer to travel to the manufacturer to get their hands on new and unique designs at a low cost.

If you are a lover of handloom sarees, you can quickly get them from many online stores. Even silk sarees online are pretty affordable, and you can wear them for many events like engagements and birthday parties. These sarees are the best option for festive seasons also.

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