Silk Promise
Understanding Silk Certification ( India)
Silk for centuries has been considered one of the world’s most luxurious fabric and has long remained the textile of choice for the rich and affluent. Today silk has become more affordable and accessible. Unfortunately, consumers can be an easy target for counterfeiters. As a result of advances in textile processing, synthetic silk can be nearly as identical in appearance as natural silk, and often, we’re not able to tell the difference.
So how can we ensure that we aren’t being cheated? How can we easily identify genuine silk products from India?
The burn test (pulling up threads from both warp and weft directions and burning them) is an easy option but it’s not always feasible. There is an easier way to guarantee product authenticity – The Silk Mark tag.
The Silk Mark is an initiative undertaken by the Central Silk Board of India, which assures that all products with the Silk Mark tag are made of pure and authentic silk. All Silk Mark tags are affixed with a coded and numbered hologram, which can be used to identify the authorised and registered user of the Silk Mark.
Silk Mark is an assurance of pure silk and our manufacturer/designer partner Aeshaane is a certified member of the Silk Mark Organisation of India. (Registration no – 1054:2003-04)
For more details, visit http://www.silkmarkindia.com/blog/
GOTS: Ensuring True Organic and Ethical Standards
GOTS is a rigorous global standard for processing apparel and textiles made with organic fiber (like organic cotton and silk). It covers environmental and social criteria, banning GMOs, hazardous chemicals (e.g., azo dyes, formaldehyde), and child labor. It also mandates social compliance and strict wastewater treatment. GOTS certification ensures products are organic from field to finished product.
Can Everyone Afford GOTS Certification?
Not all sustainable brands can afford certifications. Many adhere to fair trade principles but lack formal certification due to high costs.
Aeshaane’s GOTS Certification Journey
Aeshaane was GOTS certified (N° ONE-1509-140908-T-GOTS), but annual renewal became difficult. GOTS required all raw materials to come from GOTS-approved sources, conflicting with our values of directly supporting grassroots weavers. These weavers couldn’t afford expensive certifications, undermining our mission to create rural employment. Additionally, sourcing from big mills increased fabric costs, affecting the entire supply chain.
Realities of GOTS Certification Costs
GOTS requires an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) at the workshop, a costly wastewater treatment solution. Small businesses often share a communal ETP due to the high costs (USD 10,000-15,000+). Mandating individual ETPs for small workshops is financially unfeasible, especially on rented premises, leading to unsustainable overheads.
Beware of Greenwashing
Low-priced GOTS-certified products might signal greenwashing. True compliance involves significant costs and rigorous standards.
What can we promise instead ?
Our silk is Silk Mark certified.
We buy our fabric directly from the weavers, who produce in the most ethical and sustainable manner.
We dye, print and stitch under strict supervision in our workshops.
We offer fair pay and fair working conditions
There is no child labour used ever.
We believe in being maximum possible sustainable and are happy to answer any doubts our clients may have. We emphasize understanding product certification is the only way to better your sustainable buying choice.
