Pure Banarasi Silk · Wholesale

Katan Banarasi Silk Sarees

The saree weavers in Varanasi reach for when the occasion really matters. Pure silk, real zari, woven by hand.

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🧵 Pure silk 🏭 Woven in Varanasi 📦 MOQ 15 pcs 📋 GST invoice ⚡ 24-hr dispatch

At a glance

Texture

Smooth, substantial

Weight

Medium–heavy

Best for

Bridal & festive

Origin

Varanasi handloom

About the weave

Why Katan is called the queen of Banarasi silks

Katan is what most people picture when they think of a Banarasi saree. The word refers to the silk yarn itself: two fine filaments twisted together before weaving, which is exactly what gives Katan its body, its quiet sheen and the way it holds a pleat without going limp by evening. It is a pure-silk, plain-weave base carrying brocade work in zari and resham. Your customers buy it for the weddings and the receptions, the days they want the saree to do some of the talking. For a boutique it sits firmly at the premium end of the rail, and it tends to be the piece a happy customer comes back to reorder in a second colour.

The craft

How Katan Banarasi Silk Sarees is made

Every Katan starts on paper. A designer draws the motif, and a craftsman called a nakshaband translates it into the naksha, a grid of strings or punched cards that tells the loom which threads to lift. That naksha is mounted on a jacquard above a pit loom, where the weaver sits with their feet in a recess below. The silk warp is dressed onto the loom, and the pattern is built by floating an extra weft of zari or coloured resham across the base and binding it into place. In kadhwa weaving each motif is woven separately and its threads cut by hand, so the back stays clean and the buti sits sturdier; in the lighter cutwork method the weft is floated across and trimmed later. A densely worked Katan can keep a weaver at the loom for two to four weeks. Genuine pieces carry the Silk Mark, and real or tested zari that warms rather than glares.

Variety

Types of Katan Banarasi Silk Sarees

Jaal

An all-over net of connected zari motifs that covers the body of the saree; rich and grand for weddings.

Meenakari

Zari motifs accented with small areas of coloured resham, adding a jewel-like multi-colour effect for festivals.

Rangkat

Different coloured warp sections joined within one saree so bands of colour run through it; tradition with a modern edge.

Kadhwa & Cutwork

Kadhwa motifs are woven separately for a sturdier finish; cutwork floats and trims the weft for a lighter, lacier look.

For boutique owners

Styling & care your customers will thank you for

Know how to style and care for each fabric so you can guide your customers with confidence — and keep every saree in perfect condition before it reaches them.

Styling guidance to pass on

How to style Katan Banarasi Silk Sarees

Tell your customers a contrast blouse lifts a Katan instantly, and zari or thread embroidery on the blouse echoes the saree without competing with it. A velvet blouse reads richer in winter. It carries bold gold or Kundan beautifully; for a heavily worked piece, keep the jewellery quieter and let the weave lead. The classic pleated drape shows the body of the saree, while a seedha-pallu drape puts the worked pallu out front for photographs at a wedding.

Care & handling

Storing, handling & care

Katan is silk and zari, so dry-clean it, and air it for a few hours after it comes back before you fold it away. Store it wrapped in a cotton or muslin cloth, never a plastic cover, which traps moisture and dulls the zari. The single most useful habit to pass on: refold the saree along a slightly different line every couple of months so the zari does not crack permanently along one crease. Keep it out of direct sunlight, which fades dye and tarnishes metal, and tuck in a few neem leaves or a silica sachet against damp. Blot a spill, never rub it. Heavy Katans are best stored flat, not on a hanger, since their own weight will distort the drape over time.

Wholesale terms

First order MOQ 15 pieces — mix & match

Pricing From ₹1,000 per saree

Payment 100% advance · no COD

Dispatch Within 24 hrs · pan-India

Invoice GST invoice every order

Reorders No minimum quantity

FAQs

Common questions

Do you sell Katan Banarasi sarees at wholesale prices? +

Yes. Priyuja supplies Katan Banarasi silk sarees to boutique and shop owners at wholesale rates, with a first-order minimum of 15 pieces.

How can I tell a Katan is genuine pure silk? +

Genuine pieces carry the Silk Mark, have a soft warmth to the zari rather than a harsh glare, and show clean handwoven motifs on the reverse. We can share these details on a video call.

Kadhwa or cutwork, what is the difference? +

In kadhwa weaving each motif is woven separately and the threads cut individually, so it is sturdier and pricier; cutwork floats the weft and trims it later, giving a lighter, more affordable saree.

What is the minimum order quantity? +

15 pieces on your first order (mix and match any designs). There is no minimum on repeat orders.

Do you ship across India? +

Yes, pan-India dispatch within 24 hours of payment confirmation, with tracking.

Buy at the source · Varanasi

Katan is the backbone of the true Banarasi weave — and there's no better place to buy it than at the source. Visit our wholesale Banarasi saree store in Varanasi on Luxa Road to see fresh katan silk stock straight from the looms, or order over a video call.

Ready to stock this fabric?

Message us on WhatsApp to browse the collection via video call, get wholesale rates, and place your first order.

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