Now QR code and logo will tell the identity of genuine handloom Banarasi sarees
Varanasi: A research team at the Mechanical Engineering department (Industrial Management) of Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU) has made a new technique in handloom saree that has inbuilt (i) weaved QR code containing details of saree, (ii) Handloom mark logo (iii) Silk Mark, and (iv) Banaras Geographical Indications (GI) logo.
According to the researchers of IIT(BHU), inbuilt weaving logos in saree will authenticate purity of handmade handloom saree. It will give confidence to customers to pick the right handloom saree and curb the misuse of the handloom and its products.
Dr. Prabhash Bhardwaj, Professor, Mechanical Engineering, said the Varanasi handloom industry has to adopt modern approaches. At present days, most of the customers are having mobile phones. With the initiation of the digital India campaign, people are getting more used to technology. According to the study conducted by my research scholar in Varanasi, there are huge potential for incorporating IT based applications in this industry. At present, our research team came up with QR code technology and logos weaving on saree. The manufacturer can weave the QR code on saree with details of his own firm and manufacturing. Whenever, customers want to know about a product, he has to use the scanner in his mobile to know about. He will get all details entered in the QR code, like place of the manufacturer, date of manufacture, etc. These measures will create confidence in customers and increase the sales.
His Research scholar Mr. M. Krishna Prasanna Naik, who is working on the growth of the Banaras handloom industry, says the Banaras Handloom industry facing many issues, including marketing as major one. According to his study, most customers are not aware of the difference between handloom and power- loommade saree. Only a limited number of customers knew about the handloom mark and GI mark. His study also shows that customers are unaware of whether sellers providing real Handloom marks or duplicate handloom marks with products. So, he came up with idea of sarees having logos and QR code.
He informed that the full designed saree consists of 6.50 meters in length in which 1-meter blouse pieces are included. After the saree part is completed, a part of 6-7 inches of plain fabric before the blouse is weaved. This patch contains designed the QR code and the other three logs. By incorporating these logs at the place, it will not reduce the fabric strength and style and the looks of the saree will remain intact.
Mr. Amresh Kushwaha, the chairman, Angika co-operative society & Ms. Angika, a designer Varanasi, has implemented the idea for the first time. They said that the lack of proper use of GI marks and handloom marks, customers are not sure about its originality of being weaved over handloom. So, we are trying to inbuilt this QR code and handloom mark logs in our sarees. It will help our local and foreign customers to differentiate between handloom product and power loom products. The team has successfully made a saree with inbuilt QR code and handloom mark logos.
