A pink Katan silk handloom kadwa Banarasi saree

Your Questions, Answered: Buying & Caring for a Banarasi

The questions we're asked most, gathered in one place — about the silk, the zari, ordering, and looking after your saree.

Fun fact: Many of our designs are woven to order — so if a Khinkhwab saree you loved has sold out, there's a good chance we can have it woven for you again.

A handwoven Banarasi is a considered purchase, and it's natural to have questions before you buy. Here are the ones we hear most often. For the latest on shipping, payment and returns, you can always message us or check our policy pages — but this covers the essentials.

Royal blue pure silk aada handwoven Banarasi saree by Khinkhwab
Every Khinkhwab Banarasi is handwoven in Varanasi, many of them woven to order — Khinkhwab

About the saree

Do you use real zari?
We offer both. Many of the pieces on the site use tested zari, and we also have a collection of real-zari sarees that we share on request. If real zari matters to you, just ask — and our guide to real zari and pure silk explains the difference.

Is it pure silk, and which weave?
Every product description lists the weave and material. If you'd like help understanding the difference between Katan, Organza, Georgette and the rest, our guide to Banarasi weaves is a good place to start — or simply message us.

Will the colour be exactly like the photos?
There can be very slight variation between a screen and the real cloth, simply because of photography and lighting. If you're particular about a shade, we're happy to share a short video of the actual piece before you buy.

Hot pink pure Katan silk Salaidar zari stripe Banarasi saree, handwoven by Khinkhwab
Pure Katan silk, woven in Varanasi — a Salaidar zari-stripe in hot pink

Finding & ordering

The saree I loved is sold out (or I can't find it again) — can I still get it?
Very often, yes. Many of our designs are woven to order, so if you WhatsApp or email us a picture of the piece, and the design is still on the loom, we can have it woven for you again.

Do the sarees come with a blouse piece?
Yes — most of our Banarasi sarees come with a blouse piece attached.

Do you stitch blouses?
We do. Just share your standard measurements with us and we'll take care of the stitching.

Do you make custom or pre-order pieces, and how long do they take?
Yes. As a general guide, pre-order pieces take around 20–25 days, and for some intricate designs up to 40–45 days — we'll always tell you the timeline when you order.

Bright yellow pure Katan silk Kadwa Meenakari diamond-jaal Banarasi saree, handwoven by Khinkhwab
Many designs are woven to order — a Meenakari diamond-jaal in bright yellow

Shipping & payment

Do you ship internationally?
Yes, we ship worldwide. As a guide, delivery is usually about 5–7 working days within India and 7–10 working days internationally once your order is confirmed, and shipping is complimentary on orders above a set value. (Message us for current shipping details to your location.)

How can I pay?
We accept cards, net-banking and PayPal, and cash on delivery is available within India for serviceable pin codes.

Tangerine orange pure Kora silk Ektara Jamdani Meenakari jaal Banarasi saree, handwoven by Khinkhwab
Handwoven and shipped worldwide — a Kora silk jamdani in tangerine

Care & returns

How do I look after my saree?
Store it wrapped in soft muslin, refold it every so often, and dry-clean only when truly needed. Our full care & storage guide walks through everything, including looking after the zari.

Can I return or exchange a piece?
Returns and exchanges are accepted in the case of a manufacturing defect or if the wrong item was sent. Just let us know within 24 hours of delivery and send us an unboxing video that clearly shows the defect — we'll review it and resolve the issue for you. (A slight colour difference from the photos isn't considered a defect, so do ask for a video of the piece first if you're unsure of a shade.)

Still have a question? We'd love to help — message us any time at info@khinkhwab.com, and explore the collection across our Banarasi sarees.

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