Authenticity check
Verify your saree's hologram
Every Danyah Banaras saree ships with a unique hologram. Scan the QR on the sticker, or enter the 10-character code below — we'll take you straight to the saree's passport, with weaver, batch, GI tag, dye lot, and full provenance.
- GI-tagged Banarasi
- Holographic sticker
- Code traceable to a single loom
- Reissued free if damaged
The authenticity problem in the Banarasi market
The Banarasi saree is one of the most counterfeited Indian textiles. Powerloom imitations from Surat, synthetic 'art silk' Banarasi-style sarees, and second-pass weaves passed off as kadhua kadhwa — these have all eroded buyer confidence in the genuine handloom market for two decades.
The GI tag (Banarasi Brocades and Sarees, registration 99, awarded 2009) helps. But the GI registry sits at the cluster level, not the saree level. Two sarees from the same authentic weaver collective are GI-eligible, but only one of them is the saree you actually bought.
The hologram closes the gap. Every Danyah Banaras saree carries a unique 10-character code tied to a specific weaver, a specific loom, a specific weaving cycle, and a specific batch number — verifiable from anywhere in the world, indefinitely.
Common questions
Verifying your Danyah Banaras
Practical questions about the hologram, the QR, the passport, and what to do if any of the three goes missing.
FAQ
Hologram & passport — frequently asked
Where is the hologram sticker located on the saree?
The silver hologram sticker is affixed to the inner edge of the saree, near the pallu signature — usually within four centimetres of the weaver's woven initials. On pre-draped sarees, the sticker is attached to the inside of the petticoat skirt at the waistband. The sticker is roughly 25mm square, silver-foiled, and shifts from gold to maroon under direct light. Below the QR you will see the 10-character code printed in black, in a fixed-width typeface for easy transcription. If you are unable to find the sticker, check the inside of the muslin storage bag and the gift box — occasionally the sticker is attached to the certificate of authenticity instead, particularly for bespoke commissions where the saree itself is preserved intact for archival purposes.
What information does the passport show?
The passport is the saree's complete provenance record. It includes the weaver's name, village, generations of weaving in the family, the photograph and short biography we keep on file; the GI tag registration number and the specific cluster of origin; the silk grade and origin (mulberry sericulture cluster, denier, twist); the zari composition (silver content, gold-dip purity); the naksha maker's name where the saree is from a bespoke commission; the dye lot and the master dyer; the weaving start and end dates; the total hours on the loom; the batch number; and the downloadable PDF certificate of authenticity signed by the atelier. The passport URL is stable for the life of the saree — bookmark it, share it with an insurer, or pass it to an heir.
Why does the hologram shift colour under light?
The Danyah Banaras hologram is a custom-printed micro-embossed foil supplied by a Mumbai security-printing partner who also produces certificates for two Indian state governments and the Reserve Bank's collector-coin programme. The colour shift (gold to maroon) is produced by a diffraction grating embossed into the foil at a depth of approximately 1.5 microns; the shift is the visual signature of the foil and is impossible to reproduce by photocopy, scan, or standard print. If your hologram does not shift colour, it is either a counterfeit or has been damaged (the foil layer is thin and can be abraded by repeated friction); contact our concierge team for re-verification in either case.
I lost the hologram or the certificate. Can you reissue?
Yes. If you have the order number, the batch number, or even just the weaver's signature woven into the saree, we can reissue both the hologram sticker and the PDF certificate of authenticity. There is no charge for reissue; we ask only that you cover return shipping of the saree to our Mumbai atelier so we can apply the new sticker in person and re-photograph the saree for our archive. The full process takes 7–10 days. Email concierge@danyahbanaras.com to begin.
Can you verify a saree I bought second-hand?
In most cases, yes. Our master register goes back to 2019 (the year the atelier opened) and records the weaver, batch, dye lot, and original buyer for every saree we have sold. If you can send us clear photographs of (1) the woven weaver signature on the inner edge, (2) the full pallu, (3) any original packaging or paperwork you have, and (4) the hologram sticker if still present, our concierge team can usually confirm authenticity within one working day. We also offer a paid certificate transfer service for second-hand purchases — for a small administrative fee we will reissue the certificate of authenticity in the new owner's name. This is particularly valuable for heirloom or trousseau sarees passed between generations.
Does the QR or the code expire?
No. The passport URL is permanent. We have committed to maintaining the passport infrastructure for the lifetime of the atelier, and to handing the master register to the Banarasi Bunkar Samiti as a public archive in the event the atelier ever ceases operations. Practically: a Danyah Banaras saree purchased in 2025 will still be verifiable in 2075, by the granddaughter of the woman who first wore it. That is the design intent of the hologram programme.