Terms of
Service.
Every SUTVANI drape is an archival work of Varanasi handloom artistry. These terms define the stewardship, acquisition conditions, and mutual commitments governing your experience with our digital atelier.
1. Acceptance of Terms & Atelier Scope
These Terms of Service constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("Patron", "Client", or "User") and Sutvani Luxury Handlooms Private Limited ("SUTVANI", "we", "our", or "us"), governing access to and transactions conducted via our digital atelier at sutvani.com.
By visiting our website, commissioning a bespoke weave, or acquiring a saree from our curated vault, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by these Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. If you do not agree, you must discontinue your use of this atelier.
2. Handloom Heritage, Purity & Artisanal Nuances
SUTVANI guarantees that all silk sarees featured under our pure handloom collections are authentic, hand-woven textiles conceived on traditional pit looms in Varanasi and associated master artisan clusters across India.
The Nature of Authentic Handcrafting
Handloom weaving is an organic, human-guided artistic process. Unlike uniform automated powerloom reproductions, authentic hand-woven textiles possess characteristic attributes:
- Subtle variations in weft tension, yarn thickness (slubs), and hand-knotting.
- Minute irregularities in zari interlocking (Kadhua/Kadwa techniques) on the reverse face.
- Natural variations in dye absorption inherent to hand-dyed mulberry silk yarns.
These nuances are not manufacturing imperfections or flaws; they are the genuine hallmarks of handloom provenance, certifying that human hands guided every thread.
All pure silk sarees carry the Silk Mark India authentication tag issued by the Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI), verifying the purity of the natural silk yarns.
3. Digital Representation & Color Nuances
We photograph each drape under calibrated studio lighting and natural daylight to capture true yarn luminescence, zari luster, and rich jewel tones. However:
- Screen Calibration: Variations in individual device displays, OLED panels, color profiles, and ambient lighting may create subtle differences between on-screen imagery and the physical textile.
- Zari Reflection: Hand-woven gold, silver, and antique tested zari reflects light dynamically depending on lighting angles and drapes.
- Bespoke Video Consultation: If you require absolute color certainty prior to acquisition, our concierge provides high-definition private video presentations via WhatsApp or FaceTime upon request.
4. Pricing, Currencies, Taxes & Global Customs Duties
A. Multi-Currency Display & Payment
Prices on sutvani.com can be viewed in multiple currencies (including INR, USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and AED). Currency conversions are processed at live market exchange rates. Your credit card issuer may apply nominal international transaction or foreign exchange conversion fees.
B. Domestic (India) Orders
For shipments within India, listed prices are inclusive of Goods and Services Tax (GST). Complimentary insured express courier delivery is included on all domestic orders.
C. International Orders & Customs Duties (DDU Basis)
International orders are shipped on a DDU (Delivery Duty Unpaid) basis. This means the purchase price paid to SUTVANI excludes customs duties, import tariffs, VAT, or local brokerage fees levied by the destination country's customs authority.
Important Note for International Patrons: Any customs duties or import taxes assessed upon entry into your country must be paid directly by the recipient to our express courier partner (DHL / FedEx) prior to final delivery. SUTVANI has no control over statutory customs assessments.
D. Pricing Accuracy
In the rare event that an item is mistakenly listed at an incorrect price due to technical or typographical error, SUTVANI reserves the right to decline or cancel orders placed at the erroneous price, providing a prompt full refund.
5. Orders, Cancellations & Bespoke Commissions
A. Ready-to-Ship Curation
Orders for pieces in our active vault are confirmed once payment authorization is verified. Patrons receive an immediate digital invoice and confirmation email detailing acquisition references.
B. Cancellation Window
You may cancel a ready-to-ship order within 12 hours of placement, provided the piece has not been handed over to express transit or customized (e.g., fall/pico stitching initiated). To cancel, email concierge@sutvani.com with your order number. Once dispatched, cancellation is no longer possible.
C. Bespoke Weaving Commissions
For bridal heirlooms and custom loom commissions requiring weeks of individual weaving:
- Bespoke commissions require a non-refundable upfront deposit prior to loom setup.
- Estimated weaving timelines are subject to artisanal pace, seasonal humidity, and natural dye drying cycles.
- Because bespoke textiles are custom-crafted to your specific dimensions or colorways, they are strictly non-cancellable and non-refundable once weaving has commenced.
6. Global Shipping, Transit Insurance & Delivery
We treat the delivery of our textiles with white-glove logistics. Every drape dispatched from our atelier is backed by comprehensive transit insurance:
Fully Insured Transit
Every international and domestic shipment is insured for 100% of its invoice value against loss, theft, or physical damage in transit until physical delivery.
Direct Signature Requirement
For security, high-value luxury handlooms require an adult signature upon delivery. We advise against requesting "leave unattended" delivery with couriers.
Detailed information regarding transit timelines, courier partners (DHL, FedEx, BlueDart), and complimentary shipping thresholds can be reviewed in our Global Shipping Guide.
7. Inspection, Transit Damage, Returns & Exchange Policy
Due to the delicate nature of pure mulberry silk, pure zari, and artisanal handloom integrity, our returns policy is formulated to safeguard both our patrons and our craftspeople:
A. Immediate Inspection & 48-Hour Notification Window
Upon receiving your parcel, examine the external tamper-evident seal. If the package appears visibly opened or compromised, document it with the courier before signing.
In the unlikely event that your saree is received in a physically damaged condition or does not match the reference acquired, you must notify our concierge within 48 hours of delivery:
- Send an email to concierge@sutvani.com with your order number.
- Include high-resolution photographs and a continuous unboxing video clearly displaying the shipping label, packaging seal, and the condition of the drape.
B. Return Eligibility Conditions
Approved returns must satisfy all of the following conditions:
- The drape must be unused, unworn, unwashed, and unpleated, with all original security tags, Silk Mark labels, and packaging intact.
- The saree must not have undergone fall, pico, or hem stitching at the client's request.
- The blouse piece must remain attached and un-cut from the main saree length.
C. Strictly Non-Returnable Items
- Customized sarees (with fall & pico applied or customized tassels attached).
- Tailored blouse garments or sarees with the unstitched blouse piece severed.
- Bespoke commissioned weaves crafted specifically to client order.
- Items acquired during private archive sales or marked as final acquisition.
D. Refund Settlement
Upon receipt and physical inspection of the returned piece by our master weavers in Varanasi, an approved refund is credited back to your original mode of payment within 7-10 business days. Original international customs duties paid to local authorities are non-refundable by SUTVANI.
8. Pure Silk & Zari Care Code
Banarasi handlooms are generational heirlooms. Preserving their luster requires adherence to specialized care standards:
- Dry Clean Only: Never machine wash, hand wash, or expose pure silk to domestic laundry detergents. Professional chemical dry cleaning by specialists experienced in heritage zari is mandatory.
- Storage in Muslin: Store folded sarees in pure, unbleached cotton or muslin fabric. Never store in plastic pouches, which trap moisture and can oxidize metal zari threads.
- Avoid Liquids & Perfumes: Direct application of deodorants, perfumes, water, or alcoholic solutions will discolour silk and tarnish real metal electroplating.
SUTVANI accepts no liability for fiber degradation, zari darkening, or fabric tears resulting from improper laundering, harsh environmental storage, or domestic accidents.
9. Intellectual Property & Digital Rights
All content showcased on sutvani.com—including photography, atelier films, graphics, textual narratives, brand trademarks, logos, loom archive documentation, and distinctive motif arrangements—is the exclusive intellectual property of Sutvani Luxury Handlooms Private Limited.
Unauthorized copying, commercial reproduction, web scraping, framing, or distribution of our visual or written media is strictly prohibited and protected under Indian and international copyright and trademark conventions.
10. Patron Conduct & Prohibited Uses
By utilizing our digital atelier, you agree not to:
- Engage in fraudulent transactions, use stolen payment instruments, or impersonate other patrons.
- Deploy automated scripts, bots, spiders, or scrapers to harvest catalog information or interfere with server performance.
- Circumvent or attempt to disable site security safeguards or authentication tokens.
11. Limitation of Liability & Governing Law
A. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, SUTVANI’s aggregate liability arising out of or related to any purchase made through this site shall not exceed the actual monetary purchase amount paid by the patron for the specific product giving rise to the claim.
B. Governing Law & Exclusive Jurisdiction
These Terms of Service and any contractual agreements between SUTVANI and its patrons shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of India.
Any legal dispute, suit, or claim arising out of your interaction with SUTVANI shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts located in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India.
C. Severability & Entire Agreement
If any provision of these Terms is determined to be unenforceable or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be enforced to the fullest extent permitted, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.
12. Atelier Concierge & Legal Notices
We welcome open communication with our patrons. For inquiries regarding our Terms of Service, order verifications, or institutional bespoke commissions, please reach our dedicated concierge:
Legal Notices
Email: legal@sutvani.com
Atelier: 12th Kachaudi Gali, Heritage Corridor, Varanasi, UP 221001, India
Dedicated to Preserving Your Trust
Have questions before curating your bridal or heirloom drape? Our concierge is available seven days a week for personalized consultations.