Social media for Handloom Studio, sorted.
A month of posts written for your line of work: the caption, the hashtags, what to photograph and the day to post. Answer six questions and the first month is free.
Where your plan focuses
The platform and content mix SahiPost starts from for this trade. It is a starting point, not a rule.
Platforms
What you post
A sample post
This is the kind of post that lands in your plan, here for Instagram.
Myth: Handloom and power loom look the same, so the price difference is just branding. Fact: A handwoven fabric has small irregularities in the weave and a softer fall. A power loom piece is perfectly uniform. That uniformity is exactly how you tell them apart, and the irregularity is the thing you are paying for. Come and hold both. It takes ten seconds to learn and you will never unsee it.
Photo brief. Split card with two macro photographs of weave, handloom left and power loom right, shot at the same magnification under the same light. No models, no styling, just cloth.
Myths your customers believe
Posts that correct a myth earn trust. Your plan includes them, with your business name attached.
Myth. Handloom and power loom look the same, so the price difference is just branding
Fact. A handwoven fabric has small irregularities in the weave and a softer fall. A power loom piece is perfectly uniform, which is exactly how you tell them apart.
Myth. All silk sarees are the same silk
Fact. Mulberry, tussar, eri and muga are different fibres with different weight, sheen and price. A shop that will not name the fibre is telling you something.
Myth. Natural dyes never bleed
Fact. Many natural dyes release colour in the first wash, which is normal and is why the first wash is done separately and cold. Bleeding is not the same as poor quality.
Myth. Handloom is only for occasions
Fact. Cotton handloom is among the most comfortable everyday cloth there is. The occasion association comes from silk, which is a small part of what a loom makes.
How to tell handloom from power loom in a shop
- Look closely at the weave for small irregularities rather than perfect uniformity
- Check the selvedge, which on handloom is rarely machine-straight
- Hold the fabric up and watch how it falls, because handloom drapes softer
Questions your customers ask
How can I tell handloom from power loom?
Look for tiny irregularities in the weave and at the selvedge, and feel how the fabric falls. Handloom is never perfectly uniform, and that is the point rather than a flaw.
How should I wash a handloom saree the first time?
Separately, in cold water, without detergent and without soaking. Many dyes release colour on the first wash, and that first wash decides how the piece behaves for years.
How do I store sarees so they do not develop fold marks?
Refold along different lines every few months, keep them in cotton rather than plastic, and keep silk away from direct sunlight. Fold marks come from the same crease sitting for years.
What is the difference between mulberry, tussar and eri silk?
Mulberry is the smoothest with the most sheen, tussar has a coarser texture and a natural gold tone, and eri is matte and warmer. They drape differently and are priced differently.
Is the zari real?
Ask, and expect a plain answer. Pure zari is silver with gold plating; tested and metallic zari are common and perfectly good. What matters is that it is stated rather than implied.
Do you know who wove this?
For most of our pieces, yes, by cluster and often by name. If a shop cannot say where a piece came from, the premium for handloom is hard to justify.
Will the colour fade?
Natural dyes soften with time, which many people prefer. Keeping silk out of direct sun and washing cold slows it considerably.
Can a damaged saree be repaired?
Often, yes. Darning and rewoven patches are a real craft, and a good repair on an old piece is usually better value than replacing it.
Hashtags to start with
Ready for a month of posts?
Six questions, about two minutes. No card, and the first month stays free.