etzee

How saree and textile condition is described

New, worn, vintage — and the specific flaws that have to be named.

The Metzee team13 Oct 20261 min read

Textiles have no numeric grading scale, which puts the weight on description.

The broad states

New / unworn — never worn, often with the original fold lines still in it.

Worn — used, with the number of times said if you know it.

Vintage — old enough to be a style rather than simply second-hand.

Antique — genuinely old, and a category where provenance and fragility both matter.

What must be named

Pulls — where a thread has been caught. Say where and how large.

Stains — location, size, and whether anybody has tried to remove it.

Weak fold lines — on old silk, the places it may give way in wear. The most important flaw to declare on a vintage piece and the one most often left out.

Zari condition — tarnish, blackening, or loss.

Repairs — any darning, reweaving or patching.

Alterations — a cut blouse piece, a shortened length.

On smell

Storage smell and camphor are real condition issues. Say so — the buyer will notice on opening and would far rather have been told.

What not to do

Do not describe a vintage piece as new because it was never worn. Never worn and sixty years old is its own state, and the fold lines are part of it.

Questions people ask

Does a small pull matter?

To price, a little. To trust, a lot if you did not mention it.

Should I repair before selling?

Usually not, and if you do, say so. Buyers of vintage frequently prefer original condition.

Is handloom irregularity a flaw?

No — it is the evidence of handloom and should be described as a feature.

More: condition words across every category.

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