Mysore Silk, the favourite saree brand of South Indian women and the pride of Karnataka, is set to get closer to customers in North India also, as its maker Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) has planned to open authorised outlets in Mumbai and New Delhi.

For the people of North Karnataka region also, the nearest KSIC outlet selling original and reputed Mysore Silk is in Davangere, and the KSIC is now planning to open an outlet in Hubballi also if the response to its exhibition here is good.

"We are the only authentic makers of pure Mysore Silk sarees which has a history of more than 100 years. KSIC has GI tag and patent for Mysore Silk. Pure crape silk with gold and silver zari are also the speciality of Mysore Silk Sarees. Others who sell it in this name are fake," said KSIC manager (marketing and IT) Bhanuprakash S.

South Indians staying in Mumbai and New Delhi want a Mysore Silk outlet nearby. KSIC would open its outlet at MSIL's Karnataka Bhavan in Mumbai first, and then in New Delhi. People in Hubballi also want an outlet here, and we would plan for that, considering the response to the exhibition. An outlet here was closed down 10 years back, due to poor response, and the situation is changed now, he noted, adding that Davangere outlet which has fewer sales can also be shifted to Hubballi.

KSIC purchases silk cocoons make threads and prepare sareers, which are lightweight and which need not ironing also. It has seven outlets in Bengaluru, six in Mysuru and one each in Channapattna, Davangere, Hyderabad and Chennai. With an annual turnover of Rs 175 crore, the KSIC is producing around 80,000 sarees. But the demand is much more, and therefore, another factory would be set up near Mysuru, to produce 30,000 more sarees, Bhanuprakash explained.

Expo begins

The KSIC has organised a four-day 'Mysore Silk' exhibition-cum-sale at Bhagini Mangdal at J C Nagar here from Tuesday. Silk sarees with a price range of Rs 14,000 to Rs 1.30 lakh are available here, in addition to shirts.

Silk zari sarees, printed and plain sarees, wedding collections, designer wear sarees, and sarees with traditional and modern designs are available. Up to 25% discount is also being offered on the sale of sarees in this exhibition organised in the background of Varamahalaxmi festival.

On Tuesday, Dharwad Institute of Mental & Neuro Sciences (Dimhans) administrative officer Sharada Kolakar inaugurated the exhibition, which is open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm till August 10.