Designer vs Handloom Sarees: Which One Actually Gives You More Wears Per Rupee?

When purchasing a saree, we will always keep in mind its colour and the cost.

How many times we will actually wear it doesn't come up until later, if at all. But it changes the picture quite a bit. A ₹5,000 saree that you wear twice costs more per wear than a ₹7,000 saree that you wear twenty times.

In this post, we'll compare designer and handloom sarees by cost per wear, which is just the price divided by the number of times you wear it. I'll also talk about which type suits which kind of occasion, what to check before you pay, and what we have at Sathiraa. If you are searching for fashionable sarees for women in India online today, this piece of information can save you from purchasing a piece which will end up lying in the wardrobe.

What do 'designer' and 'handloom' stand for?

'Designer' implies that the saree is created specially for a particular style. There could be some sort of embroidery, cutdana, beadwork, sequins or pearl work in the saree, or it may come as a ready-made drape.

Handloom is about how the fabric is made. It is woven by hand on a loom instead of a power loom.

The two can overlap. A saree can be hand-embroidered and hand-loomed, so we wouldn't think of them as two completely separate things.

The prices are close to each other. What really changes the cost per wear is how often you wear the saree. ₹5,589 is fine if you wear it twelve times, but it feels like a lot if you wear it once at a wedding and never again.

Why does handloom usually get more wear?

• We think handloom usually gets more wear for a few reasons.
• Woven motifs and zari borders don't go out of style quickly, so the saree still looks fine after a few years.
• One saree can be used for different things. The same Banarasi can go to a puja, a family wedding and an office function if you change the blouse and the jewellery.
• It is easier to repeat. Some people don't like repeating a heavily embroidered saree in front of the same relatives and friends. A woven saree usually doesn't get noticed as much.

When it comes to buying handloom sarees online in India, there is one important thing to pay attention to. Some retailers may misuse the word 'handloom'. 

The Handloom Mark is a certification meant to show that a product is really hand-woven and not made on a power loom. The Textiles Committee also has an app where you can scan the QR label on a product to check if it is genuine. It's a good idea to ask the seller what proof they have before you pay.

Handloom at Sathiraa

The majority of our handloom sarees are found in the Banarasi Handloom Sarees category. On checking, there were 19 sarees in stock with a cost of ₹4,619 or ₹7,679 on the first page. Kavya was among them.

It is a pure tissue silk handloom Banarasi with kadhwa sona rupa butis in gold and silver zari, and it has our 100% Authentic Handloom badge on the product page. If you want to buy handloom sarees online in India from us, look for that badge.

Buy designer saree online in India for events.

Designer sarees are better suited if the event is the main point in its organisation, such as a sangeet, a cocktail evening or a reception. Embroidery, organza and pearl work look good in photos and during the event lighting, and a simple woven silk looks rather poor next to those. Designer sarees are suitable if you prefer soft fabrics, new fabrics or if you like ready-to-wear drapes to avoid having to deal with pleats.

To use your saree on multiple occasions, choose the colour you will be able to repeat, for example slate blue or muted lavender grey. It should be something understated, not an eye-catcher.

You can also change the blouse the second time and drape it a different way.

Best embroidered sarees for women in India, and what to check?

The best embroidered sarees for women in India are not always the ones with the most work on them. We would say they are the ones you actually pick up again after the first event. Before you order, check a few things:

• How heavy it might be, since heavy work can get tiring after a few hours
• Whether the blouse is included and if it is stitched or not
• Whether the colour goes with jewellery you already have
• Whether the listing has close-up photos of the pallu and border, and not only one full photo

What to check before you order stylish sarees for women online in India?

• How many events do you have planned in the coming 12 months? If it is two or three, then a designer saree is okay.
• If it's five or more, a handloom one is a better start.
• Read the fabric name. "Pure tissue silk" tells you more than "premium silk".
• Look for proof if it says handloom. A badge, a label or the Handloom Mark.
• See what comes with the saree, mainly the blouse piece. If it's unstitched, add the stitching cost.
• Add up the full cost, including shipping, blouse stitching and a petticoat if you need one.
• Do the cost per wear calculation with a number you are honest about.
• Shipping and offers at Sathiraa

Shipping on our site is free, and cash on delivery is available. Product pages show an estimated delivery of 5 to 7 days, and you can check your pincode there. They also offer a 2-for-10% discount or a 3-for-15% discount; thus, two sarees priced at ₹4,619 each will cost you around ₹8,314.

That can help if you are picking stylish sarees for women online in India for a whole season.

So which one gives more wear per rupee?

For most people, it is handloom, mainly if you have many events and want one saree that works for several of them. A designer saree is better when you have only one or two big events and want a strong look, and if you choose a colour you can wear again.

My own opinion is that if you are buying just one saree this year, make it handloom. If you are buying a second one, get an embroidered one for an event you actually have. Buy designer sarees online in India for those events, buy handloom sarees online in India for the rest, and look for the best embroidered sarees for women in India among the ones you can see yourself wearing again.

FAQs

Q1. Which gives more wear per rupee, designer or handloom sarees?

Usually handloom, because one saree can be used for many occasions and repeated without much notice. A designer saree can come close if you pick a colour you will reuse and wear it a dozen times or more.

Q2. Is it safe to buy handloom sarees online in India?

It can be, if the seller shows proof for the word "handloom". Look for a badge, a label or the Handloom Mark; read the fabric name, and make sure the listing contains high-quality pictures of the weave and the border.

Q3. How do I know if my saree is handloom?

Look for the Handloom Mark label. Its QR code can be scanned in the Textiles Committee customer app to confirm the product is genuine. Small variations in the weave and minor thread pulls are also normal in handwork.

Q4. Are embroidered sarees worth it if I wear them only a few times?

It depends on the price and the event. At ₹5,589, five wears cost approximately ₹1,118 per wear, and twelve wears cost approximately ₹466. If you know for sure that you will be wearing it once, you might consider a cheaper one from Party Wear.

Q5. Which sarees with embroidery designs are suitable for Indian women at wedding functions?

That depends on what kind of role you have in that event and during which part of the day it takes place. If it is sangeet or reception, you should go for hand embroidery, sequin or pearl work on organza/tissue. If it is a daytime function, you should opt for light embroidery.

Q6. Is it a wise move to purchase a designer saree online in India without even trying it on?

If you make sure of certain things, yes. A saree is a drape; thus, there is no other fitting but the blouse. Check whether the blouse is stitched or unstitched and read carefully the details of the fabric and work.

Q7. How do I choose trendy sarees for women online in India?

Go for colours and weaves you would still wear after three years. Muted shades and simple woven motifs usually last longer than very trendy prints.

Q8. Does Sathiraa deliver to my city?

Every product page has a "Check delivery" box where you can enter your pincode. Orders are dispatched within 1 to 3 business days and usually delivered in 5 to 7 business days.