Silk Mark opens 9 consumer silk testing centres in Bengaluru
11 Mar 2019
Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI) has set up nine testing centres in main retails hubs of Bengaluru to ensure silk quality for consumers.
The organisation has introduced the `Silk Mark,’ a system that would provide the consumer a quick and easy method of getting their silks tested for purity by trained personnel.
“Consumer is provided with purity tests like flame test, microscopic test etc, and an invoice and a sample test report are given after the test,” said K M Hanumantharayappa, chairman, Central Silk Board and Silk Mark Organisation of India.
The tests are conducted without disturbing the structure of the sarees and other materials and will cost Rs20 per test. The tests will be carried out instantly and the report issued on the spot.
The silk testing centres were opened on Women’s day as a tribute to the women, SMOI stated in a release.
These testing centres operating at BTM Layout, Chickpet, Cubbon Main road and other areas in Bengaluru will enable silk lovers of the city and elsewhere get the silk materials they purchase anywhere tested for purity.
`Silk Mark is promoted by Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI), a registered society under the Karnataka Society Act 1960. SMOI is an initiative of the Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, and the Government of India. The Silk Mark labels are in the form of paper hangtags and sew-in labels. These are affixed only on pure silk products by the authorised users of Silk Mark. Each label has a hologram and a unique number printed on it, which helps the consumer trace the product back to the authorised user.
Silk Mark is intended to protect the interests of the consumers, genuine traders and manufacturers of silk. It also undertakes generic promotion of the different types of natural silk.
Out of over five hundred different types of silk spinning worms, only four are commercially exploited for the production of natural silk, namely mulberry, tasar, eri, and muga. The latter three varieties are collectively branded as ‘vanya' silks, which are wild silks. Vanya silk literally means 'forest silk'. India is the only country that currently produces all four types of natural silk.