Fri Apr 18 00:51:00 UTC 2025: ## Gajendragad’s Patteda Anchu Saree Receives Geographical Indication Tag

**Belagavi, Karnataka – April 18, 2025** – The Patteda Anchu saree, a traditional hand-woven cotton textile from Gajendragad in north Karnataka, has been granted a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, protecting its unique craftsmanship and design. The GI tag, awarded by the Controller General of Patents, Designs, and Trade Marks and Geographical Indications in March, follows a 2019 application by the Gajendragad Weavers’ Cooperative Producers Society.

The saree, known for its bright colours and distinctive large borders and chequered patterns, is produced using natural dyes derived from plants and mud. Weavers use traditional kuni looms dug into the earth, a practice estimated to be at least 500 years old. The cooperative, established in 1944, employs around 30 weavers, producing approximately 9,500 sarees in 38 patterns annually. These sarees, selling for ₹700-₹1,000, are distributed to wholesalers across several Indian states.

The GI tag is expected to safeguard the Patteda Anchu saree from imitation by mass-produced power loom sarees. The cooperative received assistance from legal experts in securing the GI tag and plans to collaborate with the Karnataka Handloom Technology Institute to establish a quality control laboratory to detect counterfeits.

While celebrating this achievement, concerns were raised about the limited awareness of GI tags among weavers and the lack of substantial economic benefits from previous GI recognitions. Several artisans advocate for increased government support, including the creation of dedicated GI shops, promotion of GI products in government functions, and improved access to credit and raw materials for weavers. The Karnataka government is reportedly developing an online platform to facilitate the sale of GI-tagged products, including the Patteda Anchu saree.

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