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Burn test

A simple home check for the fibre in a saree: burn a loose thread and look at how it burns, smells and what it leaves.

A swatch drawn for this page, not a picture of Burn test.

Also: flame test, thread burn test

Take a loose thread from the edge of the cloth, hold it with tweezers, and light the tip over a plate, away from the saree. Natural silk burns slowly, curls away from the flame, smells like burnt hair, and leaves a black ash that crushes to powder between the fingers. Cotton burns fast like paper and leaves soft grey ash. Polyester and nylon melt, shrink away, smell chemical and leave a hard bead. The test is rough, and a blend or a zari thread can confuse it, so it is a clue and not a proof. A Silk Mark is better evidence.

See also

Find sarees that mention Burn test

The weekly drape

Every Monday: seven sarees you may not know, what is being worn this week, and one drape explained step by step.