Banarasi saree to receive intellectual property rights tag
21 Apr '09
1 min read
The traditional banarasi saree, the preferred choice for silk sarees in India is on its way to getting a Geographical Indication (GI). Organisations related to the banarasi saree trade from Varanasi are seeking the same due to widespread duplication of this coveted fabric.
The Banarasi Bunkar Samiti, an organisation of banarasi handloom weavers is spearheading the effort to receive the intellectual property rights to the silk brocade as well as the banarasi saree along with eight other organisations.
The famous Pashmina fabric produced in Kashmir has received the Geographical Indication last year and recently a group of organisations based in Pune have also applied for the same for the traditional “Pune Pagadi”.
The banarasi saree is facing a lot of competition from duplicates tagged off as banarasi sarees from towns and cities like Bangalore, Bhagalpur and Surat and this Geographical Indication is expected to stem the flow of the fakes.
A GI is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific geographical province or region. The GI acts as a certification that the product possesses certain qualities, or enjoys a certain reputation, due to its geographical origin.