What this sub-category includes

• Sarees & occasionwear inputs: Chandni Chowk’s Katra Neel is a historic fabric bazaar (silk, satin, crepe, cotton, muslin). Nearby Kinari Bazaar supplies zari borders, gota, laces, and bridal trimmings—ideal for sarees/lehenga finishing.
  
• Street fashion: Delhi’s Sarojini Nagar market (15–25 minutes from Chandni Chowk) is famous for export-surplus/rejected export apparel sold at throwaway prices—great for trend scouting and budget streetwear sourcing.
  

Export classification & where the data sits

Sarees are not a single HS line in Indian trade stats. They’re classified by fibre/fabric (and whether the item is a fabric length vs. a stitched garment). India’s Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs clarifies:

• Silk sarees: HS 5007 (woven fabrics of silk)
  
• Cotton sarees: HS 5208/5209 (≤200 gsm / >200 gsm)
  
• Man-made filament sarees: HS 5407/5408
  (GST note: most of these saree fabric headings are at 5% GST domestically.)
  

Because sarees are embedded in fabric headings, use these proxy export sizes (latest available national figures) to gauge scale:

• HS 500720—woven silk fabrics (≥85% silk): India exported ~US$63.6 million (2023).
  
• HS 5407—woven fabrics of synthetic filaments: India’s exports ~US$900.5 million (2023).
  
• HS 5208—cotton woven fabrics ≤200 gsm: DGCI&S commodity profile shows ~US$1.216 billion (FY 2023–24).
  

Interpretation: much of the mass-market saree trade (especially synthetic, blended and powerloom cotton) flows through 5407/5208. Silk sarees are a smaller but premium export niche under 5007.

Quality, specs & compliance

Materials & trims (Delhi advantage):

• Fabrics from Katra Neel + zari/gota/lace from Kinari Bazaar enable quick sampling and finishing for bridal/trousseau lines.
  

Authenticity/quality marks (useful for premium lines & exports):

• Handloom Mark (Govt. of India): certifies a product is genuinely hand-woven; run by the Textiles Committee.
• India Handloom Brand (IHB): government brand with baseline quality parameters (raw material purity, weaving, dyes/chemicals, embellishments). Use it when sourcing handloom sarees scoring “zero defect, zero effect.”
• Silk Mark (Central Silk Board/SMOI): label for 100% pure silk sarees; each label is serialized/holographed.
  

Chemical & labeling compliance (for EU/UK and similar markets):

• EU Textile Labelling—Reg. (EU) 1007/2011: fibre composition labeling rules; ensure correct fibre names and % disclosure on sarees/garments.
  
• REACH Annex XVII (Azo dyes): textiles must not release restricted aromatic amines (>30 mg/kg); require azo-free dyes tests (EN/ISO methods).
  

Why Delhi/Chandni Chowk for this category

• Dense wedding & occasion ecosystem: fabrics, trimmings, jewelled borders, plus nearby bridalwear clusters—fast prototyping for sarees/lehenga sets.
  
• Street-fashion pipeline: Sarojini Nagar’s steady flow of export surplus helps track fast-moving trends and price points for global “street” capsules.
  
• Mass garment base: The Gandhi Nagar ready-made garment market is often cited as Asia’s largest—useful for volume accessories/basic apparel to complement saree lines.
  
• Export logistics: The ICD Tughlakabad (INTKD) dry port (Delhi) is the largest in India, with daily rail to JNPT/Mundra, streamlining export moves from Delhi NCR.
  

Practical sourcing checklist

• Classify by fibre first (5007 / 5208-09 / 5407-08) so invoices, labels and compliance documents align. Use Handloom Mark/IHB/Silk Mark where applicable.
  
• Test reports: azo-dye (REACH), colour fastness (ISO 105 series), pH/formaldehyde where required; verify fibre % per EU 1007/2011 before labeling.
  
• Trim compliance: for zari/gota/laces (HS 5808/5806), confirm base yarns and finishes meet destination norms; keep tech sheets & shade cards from Kinari suppliers.
  
• Logistics: consolidate at Delhi NCR and ship via ICD-TKD to west-coast ports (JNPT/Mundra) for shorter door-to-port time
  

Fast facts (with sources)

• Where to find what in Chandni Chowk: Katra Neel (fabrics), Kinari Bazaar (zari, borders, laces).
  
• Saree HS placement (by fibre): silk 5007; cotton 5208/5209; MMF 5407/5408 (+ 5% GST guidance).
  
• Export scale indicators (India, latest): Silk fabrics (500720) ~US$63.6m (2023); Synthetic filament fabrics (5407) ~US$900.5m (2023); Cotton woven ≤200 gsm (5208) ~US$1.216bn (FY 2023-24).
  
• Street fashion hub: Sarojini Nagar—export-surplus fashion at low prices.
  
• Logistics edge: ICD Tughlakabad—India’s biggest dry port with daily rail to gateways.