Central Silk Board : Silk Mark: Identifying genuine pure silk Products

A Special Feature | Courtesy – Central Silk Board | Bengaluru

The Central Silk Board (CSB), under Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India was established to guide the overall development of the Sericulture Industry in India. In order to safeguard the Silk consumers in particular, a Silk Mark Scheme was launched by Central Silk Board during the year 2004, to provide quality assurance SILK MARK label for genuine natural silk products to protect consumers and promote trust in the Indian silk industry.  Silk Mark Scheme is functional through Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI) under CSB.

The Silk Mark is a quality assurance label that certifies a product is made of 100% pure silk. It was introduced to combat the sale of man-made fibres’ or mixed fabrics labelled as Silk. The scheme aim is to:

• Ensure that consumers can confidently identify and purchase genuine silk products.
• Provide transparency and protect both consumers and legitimate silk producers.

Benefits of Silk Mark:

• Trust and credibility for businesses that use the Silk Mark label.
• Increased customer loyalty and brand value.
• Access to Exhibition, Expos and promotional opportunities.
• Technical support in product development and training for sales person.
• A high-security hologram in the Silk Mark label is introduced to prevent counterfeiting.

The SMOI currently has over 5,500 members across the country. The Silk Mark scheme is being gradually expanded to new regions in a phased manner, aiming to reach more consumers and stakeholders. As on date, more than 500 lakh Silk Mark-labelled products have been introduced into the market. This initiative has significantly helped consumers in identifying and purchasing genuine pure silk products, ensuring that they get the real value for their money and promoting trust in the Indian Silk industry.

The Silk Mark is crucial for promoting the authenticity of silk in India, ensuring that consumers get value for their money and helping genuine producers thrive. It also serves to protect Indian silk from unfair competition with synthetic alternatives, thus safeguarding the interests of farmers, reelers, and other stakeholders in the sericulture sector.

Individuals, firms, institutions, and government bodies involved in silk manufacturing or trading can become members of the SMOI.  For enrolment as a member of SMOI, you shall write to ceo@silkmarkindia.com  / silkmark@silkmarkindia.com.

(Shilpa Bichitra | Special Edition | 2024)