INTRODUCING

HKV Heirloom Care

Specialist restoration and preservation for precious Banarasi silk textiles.

Some sarees carry memories of a mother, grandmother or a wedding. We assess treasured Banarasi sarees, dupattas, lehengas, stoles and other accessible textiles individually, and advise whether they can be restored, preserved or recreated.

Request an Assessment →   Share pictures on WhatsApp

Please contact us with photographs first. Do not send any textile before HKV confirms.

For the pieces you are afraid to trust with just anyone.

A small hole, a worn border, ageing silk or zari can need attention from someone who understands how the fabric was woven. We examine the weave, silk, zari and condition before recommending a treatment.

What we can assess

• Banarasi sarees — silk, tissue, organza-kora and selected cotton textiles
• Dupattas and stoles — silk and zari fabrics with accessible front and back
• Lehengas and other textiles — where the damaged area and reverse can be accessed safely

We can consider rafu or mending, selected stain or zari concerns, support backing for fragile cloth, and a newly woven piece based on an old design and colour.

Three possible ways to care for your heirloom

1. Restore the original. Where the textile is strong enough, we may mend damaged areas and work towards preserving its original weave and appearance.

2. Stabilise it for safekeeping. For a textile too fragile to restore or wear, we may suggest attaching a compatible supporting fabric on the reverse. This is for preservation and wardrobe storage, not a guarantee that the piece can be worn again.

3. Weave a new piece inspired by it. If the original is beyond practical restoration, we can discuss making a new textile in a similar design and colour. Exact reproduction is not guaranteed.

How the process works

1. Share on WhatsApp. Send photographs of the entire front and back, close-ups of damage, zari and worn areas, plus short videos where possible.
2. Initial review. We tell you whether physical assessment appears worthwhile and discuss the likely restoration, backing or recreation options.
3. Pack and courier only after confirmation. Protect the fabric with clean wrapping and place it in a sturdy cardboard box so it is less likely to be damaged in transit. Use DTDC, Tirupati Courier or any trusted service. We will provide our receiving address.
4. Assessment and tentative quotation. We inspect the piece at HKV and explain feasible work, risks and estimated charges. The assessment fee is ₹500. If you take up our service, this ₹500 is included in/adjusted against the charges. If you decline the work, the ₹500 is the consultation fee.
5. Your approval, then the work. We start only after you accept the proposed scope and charges.
6. Review and return. We share completion photos or videos. Once you are satisfied with the shared result and the balance is paid, we arrange return courier delivery.

The customer bears all inward and return courier charges. Please do not courier textiles before our preliminary confirmation.

Restoration is careful work, not a promise of perfection.

• Old silk may be brittle; some textiles cannot safely be restored.
• Rafu or repairs may remain visible, depending on the damage and matching yarn.
• Stains, dyeing and oxidation care are case-specific and not guaranteed.
• Backing supports preservation, but does not necessarily make fabric suitable for wearing.
• A newly woven version may differ in colour or fine details.
• Final pricing may change if further damage is discovered, but we will discuss it before additional work.

We would rather decline work than take unnecessary risks with a treasured textile.

Assessment fee and shipping

₹500 assessment fee. Included in the service charges when you proceed, or payable as consultation if you decide not to proceed. Restoration and new weaving are quoted individually after assessment. All courier expenses in both directions are borne by the customer.

Questions we are often asked

Can every old saree be restored?
No. It depends on the fabric's remaining strength and the nature of the damage.

Can you make a new saree similar to my mother's?
We can discuss a new weave inspired by its design and colours, subject to feasibility.

Can you repair an old textile that is too fragile to wear?
Sometimes a suitable supporting fabric can be added behind it to make it safer to keep in storage. Wearability is not assured.

When will I know the charges?
We provide a tentative quotation after physically examining the piece and discuss any changes before proceeding.

How should I send it?
Only after our team confirms. Use protective wrapping inside a sturdy cardboard box; choose a reliable courier and retain tracking details.

Start with photographs

Send us front, back, close-up photographs and videos. We will advise the next step.

Contact HKV Heirloom Care on WhatsApp →

Even a local cleaner or repair visit involves travel and handling. Banarasi heirlooms also call for an understanding of silk, zari and woven structure; ordinary dry cleaning is not the same as specialist restoration. HKV offers a case-by-case assessment rooted in our weaving experience. Results are not guaranteed.