{
  "id": 4847665,
  "title": "Can barcodes stop fake Paithani saris? Designers and weavers weigh in on Maharashtra plan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/can-barcodes-stop-fake-paithani-saris-designers-and-weavers-weigh-in",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T11:10:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/paithani-sari-barcode-plan-counterfeit-authentication-maharashtra-10858893/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Paithani sari, a revered Maharashtrian craft, epitomizes the zenith of handloom proficiency, prestige, and silk weaving. Intricate motifs can take a month to a year to complete, rendering the lucrative market for these revered heritage saris susceptible to counterfeit reproductions and powerloom reproductions. Maharashtra's Textile Minister Sanjay Sawkare recently unveiled a preventive measure: Paithani saris will soon bear barcodes and official markings to ascertain genuine handloom merchandise. While stakeholders have applauded the initiative's objectives, they have expressed a tempered confidence, highlighting critical implementation, endurance, and anti-tampering requisites. Some contend that existing safeguards, such as Silk Mark and Handloom Mark labels, are frequently duplicated on counterfeit items, while paper or plastic barcodes attached to a sari can be effortlessly detached or swapped. Nivedita, a designer collaborating closely with Paithani weavers for her heritage wedding collections, asserts that the initiative's triumph hinges on its diligent execution. \"I enthusiastically endorse the textile minister’s revelation on instituting barcode-based traceability for Paithani. The Paithani Sarees and Fabrics have been protected under Geographical Indication (GI) status since 2010. Thus, the new initiative has the potential to elevate this existing geographical identity substantially by establishing individual, verifiable traceability for each sari,\" she remarks. A Geographical Indication (GI) registration is a legal designation granted to products originating from a particular locale and possessing distinctive attributes linked to that region. However, she raises several pivotal questions. \"I would be keen to address at a policy level the final technology to be employed, be it a 1D barcode, QR code, RFID/NFC tag, or even a woven-in identifier. Moreover, the durability, accessibility, scalability, and anti-tamper authentication of this technology must be meticulously evaluated. Secondly, who will issue and authenticate each code? How will weavers and weaving clusters be registered?\" she inquires. Furthermore, how will the yarn, zari, production location, and individual artisan be documented? \"How will existing Paithanis be incorporated into the system? What will differentiate an authentic Paithani from a semi-Paithani or imitation? Who will manage the database, and how will consumers access and validate this information?\" she queries, emphasizing the need for these considerations to render the framework truly impregnable. \"Carried out judiciously, this could emerge as a watershed model for safeguarding India’s GI crafts and empowering the artisans behind them,\" she asserts. A Weaver's Perspective Rizwan Quereshi, a fourth-generation weaver from Aurangabad, acknowledges the prevalence of Paithani imitations, including powerloom products crafted from polyester instead of silk. \"The industry suffers as a consequence of these frauds. While we welcome the minister's commitment to aid the craft, we lack clarity regarding how the government's barcode initiative will operate or how user-friendly it will be for weavers,\" he states. Anagha Ghaisas of Saudamini Handloom, a filmmaker, educator, and textile advocate, anticipates addressing the minister about the barcode system. \"This constitutes a positive development. For years, no government has undertaken efforts to safeguard the authenticity of Paithani and ensure that only genuine Paithani reaches consumers. The minister's announcement of incorporating a barcode is welcome, but we must comprehend the technical prerequisites,\" she comments. By the end of this year, Saudamini Handloom will embark on an initiative to fortify the Paithani sector. It will inaugurate a 100-handloom cluster and experiential center alongside the waters of Manas Lake in Bugaon. Renowned for its Paithani designs, Paithanis by Mruga Kirloskar was a trailblazer and pioneer. Every Paithani sari by the distinguished designer features a running deer logo woven near the pallu. \"A barcode is a commendable step. However, even with the best intentions, some individuals may exploit them. Ideally, the state's emphasis should be on promoting the craft and enlightening consumers on how to discern authentic Paithani and make informed purchases. It is crucial that buyers are educated on the attributes and worth of Paithani,\" declares Kirloskar.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}