GI garb for Banaras Silk set to save brand from duplication
Thursday, 24 September 2009
VARANASI, Sept 23 (PTI): Weavers and traders in the silk industry here hope that the grant of patent rights to Banarasi handloom products will give a new lease of life to the exotic brand and save it from duplication in India's northern part here.
Various local hand-woven products known as 'Banarasi Silk' were granted the Geographical Indication (GI) status recently under the registered name of 'Banaras Brocades and Sarees'.
"GI registration for the silk products was required as duplicate Banarasi sarees and brocades were being produced outside the specified six districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, killing this industry," Haji Badaruddin Ansari, member of Central Silk Board and Chairman of UP Handloom Fabric Marketing Cooperative Federation Ltd told PTI.
"Now our designs will be protected from misuse. The Banarasi Silk industry is expected to get a new lease of life," he said.
As per GI registration, the right to marketing a product is exclusively tied to a definite geographical territory and it restricts others from marketing or processing a product in the same name, anywhere in the world.
This is the first GI status to any product in eastern Uttar Pradesh covering Varanasi, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Bhadohi, Jaunpur and Azamgarh districts.
Malihabadi Dussehri mango of central UP had got the GI status in April.
The GI status would benefit over 12 lakh people associated directly with the industry because it would restrict the misuse of Banarasi saree brand, he said.
As per the GI certificate issued by the registrar of GI, the Banaras Brocades and Sarees fall in four classes (13-26) that include silk brocades, textile goods, silk saree, dress material and silk embroidery. The registration is for 10 years and it may be renewed.
Seeking grant of registration, nine organisations associated with the industry like Banaras Bunkar Samiti and Eastern UP Exporters Association (EUPEA) had applied to the Chennai-based Geographical Indication Registry in July 2007. The GI registration was granted on September 4.
Banaras, one of the oldest and famous weaving centres of the country, is known for its brocade, sarees and dress material. Exclusive varieties of sarees like Jangla, Tanchoi, Vaskat, Cutwork, Tissu and Butidar have been the women's delight for centuries.
In ancient times, the city was famous for weaving of cotton sarees and dress material. During the Mughal period, the industry was popular for brocades with intricate designs using gold and silver threads.
Various local hand-woven products known as 'Banarasi Silk' were granted the Geographical Indication (GI) status recently under the registered name of 'Banaras Brocades and Sarees'.
"GI registration for the silk products was required as duplicate Banarasi sarees and brocades were being produced outside the specified six districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, killing this industry," Haji Badaruddin Ansari, member of Central Silk Board and Chairman of UP Handloom Fabric Marketing Cooperative Federation Ltd told PTI.
"Now our designs will be protected from misuse. The Banarasi Silk industry is expected to get a new lease of life," he said.
As per GI registration, the right to marketing a product is exclusively tied to a definite geographical territory and it restricts others from marketing or processing a product in the same name, anywhere in the world.
This is the first GI status to any product in eastern Uttar Pradesh covering Varanasi, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Bhadohi, Jaunpur and Azamgarh districts.
Malihabadi Dussehri mango of central UP had got the GI status in April.
The GI status would benefit over 12 lakh people associated directly with the industry because it would restrict the misuse of Banarasi saree brand, he said.
As per the GI certificate issued by the registrar of GI, the Banaras Brocades and Sarees fall in four classes (13-26) that include silk brocades, textile goods, silk saree, dress material and silk embroidery. The registration is for 10 years and it may be renewed.
Seeking grant of registration, nine organisations associated with the industry like Banaras Bunkar Samiti and Eastern UP Exporters Association (EUPEA) had applied to the Chennai-based Geographical Indication Registry in July 2007. The GI registration was granted on September 4.
Banaras, one of the oldest and famous weaving centres of the country, is known for its brocade, sarees and dress material. Exclusive varieties of sarees like Jangla, Tanchoi, Vaskat, Cutwork, Tissu and Butidar have been the women's delight for centuries.
In ancient times, the city was famous for weaving of cotton sarees and dress material. During the Mughal period, the industry was popular for brocades with intricate designs using gold and silver threads.