Adding a bit of tech to the age-old Banarasi saree: Scan the QR code now!

A research team at the Mechanical Engineering department of the Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU) has developed a QR code that will be woven into handloom Banarasi sarees to confirm their authenticity. This will also give assurance to the customers about the quality of the saree and they will not get duped into paying a hefty amount for low quality copies.

The manufacturer can weave the QR code into the saree, containing relevant fabric and manufacturing details. The new technique of weaved QR code will include the Handloom Mark Logo, Silk Mark and the Banaras Geographical Indications (GI) logo, along with other relevant information.

It should be noted that the QR code will be incorporated into the extra fabric of the blouse. This will not affect the fabric strength, style and the look of the saree will remain intact. The code will also help local and foreign customers to differentiate between handloom products and power loom products, as per the researchers.