Mysuru Silk Saree In Short Supply As Karnataka Halts Online Sales While Demand Soars

Last Updated:March 12, 2026, 17:53 IST

The limited stock of Mysuru silk sarees will now be reserved mainly for buyers visiting the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) showrooms in person

Mysuru silk sarees are widely recognised for their craftsmanship and quality. They are made from pure mulberry silk and woven with gold zari and silver threads. (Image: Youtube)

Planning to buy a Mysuru silk saree online? You may have to wait. The Karnataka government has temporarily suspended online sales after demand for the iconic saree surged far beyond available supply, leaving KSIC showrooms as the only place where buyers can currently purchase them.

The Karnataka government has temporarily suspended the online sale of Mysuru silk sarees after demand for the iconic textile rose far beyond available supply. The move aims to prioritise customers who visit physical showrooms while the state works to increase production.

The decision was announced by Karnataka’s sericulture minister, K Venkatesh, during a discussion in the state legislative assembly. He explained that the limited stock of Mysuru silk sarees will now be reserved mainly for buyers visiting the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) showrooms in person.

Online sales were originally introduced to make Mysuru silk sarees accessible to customers living outside Karnataka. However, the current surge in demand has made it difficult to maintain stock for both showroom and online buyers at the same time.

Mysuru silk sarees are widely recognised for their craftsmanship and quality. They are made from pure mulberry silk and woven with gold zari and silver threads. The sarees also carry a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, highlighting their authenticity and heritage. KSIC has been producing Mysuru silk sarees since 1912, making them one of the most celebrated traditional textiles from Karnataka.

At present, KSIC manufactures around 300 to 400 sarees every day. Over the past three years, the corporation has produced approximately 3.1 lakh sarees. During this period, only around 1,000 sarees remained unsold, showing the consistently strong demand for the product.

Minister Venkatesh said online sales would resume once production levels improve and supply becomes stable. He added that the growing popularity of Mysuru silk sarees is largely due to their quality and traditional weaving techniques.

To maintain high standards, KSIC sources premium cocoons mainly from government markets in Sidlaghatta, Ramanagara and Kollegal in Karnataka. The minister noted that there is also strong competition for high-quality cocoons from neighbouring states such as Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Despite this, the government continues efforts to secure better raw materials for production.

During the assembly discussion, BJP MLA T S Srivatsa raised questions about the demand for Mysuru silk sarees. Venkatesh responded by noting that customers often begin queuing outside KSIC showrooms as early as 3am during special discount sales.

These discount events usually offer sarees with minor defects at prices reduced by 25% to 50%.

Urban Development Minister B S Suresh and Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka also suggested that the government should allocate more funds to expand KSIC operations and increase production capacity. Suresh further proposed that the corporation consider revising saree prices and improving employee salaries to support the long-term sustainability of the industry.

KSIC’s financial performance has improved steadily in recent years. The corporation recorded a profit of ₹101 crore in 2024–25 after selling more than one lakh sarees. Earlier profits stood at Rs 73 crore in 2023–24 and Rs 46 crore in 2022–23.

To meet the rising demand, the government has upgraded production infrastructure. KSIC has installed 10 e-jacquard looms at Integrated Weaving Unit-2 and added 20 new machines at its weaving unit in Channapatna. These modern machines are expected to increase silk fabric production by around 7,500 metres per month.

The decision was announced by Karnataka’s sericulture minister, K Venkatesh, during a discussion in the state legislative assembly. He explained that the limited stock of Mysuru silk sarees will now be reserved mainly for buyers visiting the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) showrooms in person.

Online sales were originally introduced to make Mysuru silk sarees accessible to customers living outside Karnataka. However, the current surge in demand has made it difficult to maintain stock for both showroom and online buyers at the same time.

Mysuru silk sarees are widely recognised for their craftsmanship and quality. They are made from pure mulberry silk and woven with gold zari and silver threads. The sarees also carry a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, highlighting their authenticity and heritage. KSIC has been producing Mysuru silk sarees since 1912, making them one of the most celebrated traditional textiles from Karnataka.

At present, KSIC manufactures around 300 to 400 sarees every day. Over the past three years, the corporation has produced approximately 3.1 lakh sarees. During this period, only around 1,000 sarees remained unsold, showing the consistently strong demand for the product.

Minister Venkatesh said online sales would resume once production levels improve and supply becomes stable. He added that the growing popularity of Mysuru silk sarees is largely due to their quality and traditional weaving techniques.

To maintain high standards, KSIC sources premium cocoons mainly from government markets in Sidlaghatta, Ramanagara and Kollegal in Karnataka. The minister noted that there is also strong competition for high-quality cocoons from neighbouring states such as Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Despite this, the government continues efforts to secure better raw materials for production.

During the assembly discussion, BJP MLA T S Srivatsa raised questions about the demand for Mysuru silk sarees. Venkatesh responded by noting that customers often begin queuing outside KSIC showrooms as early as 3am during special discount sales.

These discount events usually offer sarees with minor defects at prices reduced by 25% to 50%.

Urban Development Minister B S Suresh and Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka also suggested that the government should allocate more funds to expand KSIC operations and increase production capacity. Suresh further proposed that the corporation consider revising saree prices and improving employee salaries to support the long-term sustainability of the industry.

KSIC’s financial performance has improved steadily in recent years. The corporation recorded a profit of ₹101 crore in 2024–25 after selling more than one lakh sarees. Earlier profits stood at Rs 73 crore in 2023–24 and Rs 46 crore in 2022–23.

To meet the rising demand, the government has upgraded production infrastructure. KSIC has installed 10 e-jacquard looms at Integrated Weaving Unit-2 and added 20 new machines at its weaving unit in Channapatna. These modern machines are expected to increase silk fabric production by around 7,500 metres per month.

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