HKVBenaras
HKV Benaras is a Varanasi-based D2C brand selling authenticated handwoven Banarasi silk sarees directly to global consumers via e-commerce. It sources from 500+ artisan weavers using traditional Kadwa techniques and offers traceability through proprietary HastKalaPramanak tags.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersVaranasi, India
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What HKVBenaras does
HKV Benaras (Hath Kargha Vastra Benaras) is a direct-to-consumer brand founded in 2022 in Varanasi, India, that sells handwoven Banarasi silk sarees exclusively through its Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront at hkvbenaras.com, shipping to over 30 countries. The company was established by Kunal Maurya, a textile engineer from IIT-Delhi with prior data science experience, alongside co-founders Prabhat Singh (COO) and Ashok Kumar Singh (CPO), during the COVID-19 pandemic to support Banarasi weaving clusters facing livelihood displacement. The stated customer base is individual consumers seeking authenticated handloom sarees for weddings, ceremonies, and gifting, with no documented enterprise or wholesale accounts.
HKVBenaras firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HKVBenaras
- Legal name
- HKV Benaras private limited
- Website
- https://hkvbenaras.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- HKV Benaras is a Varanasi-based D2C brand selling authenticated handwoven Banarasi silk sarees directly to global consumers via e-commerce. It sources from 500+ artisan weavers using traditional Kadwa techniques and offers traceability through proprietary HastKalaPramanak tags.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HKVBenaras industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Handwoven Silk Textiles
- NAICS
- Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Retailers (45913)
- SIC
- Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Vintage & Heirloom Textile/Garment Conservation (HSAJAGAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Beaded/Sequined/Embellished Garment Cleaning & Repair (HSAJAGAG)
Keywords
Where HKVBenaras is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Varanasi
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
HKVBenaras business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- E-commerce Saree and Silk Textile Sales: Primary revenue from direct-to-consumer sales of handwoven Banarasi sarees and silk textiles through the company's Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront. Products include Katan silk, chiffon, organza, satin tanchoi, and other Banarasi weaves. The brand also sells gift cards and offers a Heirloom Care restoration service. Pricing ranges from approximately Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 150,000 per saree.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Entry-level sarees in organza and basic kadhwa weaves |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Mid-range Katan silk and meenakari sarees |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium and artisan-intensive sarees |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | HKV Heirloom Care restoration assessment and service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Cards |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
HKVBenaras product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HKV Benaras designs, sources, and sells authentic handwoven Banarasi silk sarees crafted by 500+ artisan weavers in Varanasi using traditional techniques such as Kadwa weave, Meenakari, and tested silver zari. The brand operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront, offers a specialist HKV Heirloom Care restoration service for precious Banarasi textiles, and sells gift cards. Each saree carries a non-clonable HastKalaPramanak tag for authenticity, artisan, and origin traceability.
Product overview
HKVBenaras is a D2C brand offering handwoven Banarasi silk sarees crafted by 500+ artisan weavers using century-old traditional techniques. The core product line includes various saree collections (Jangla, Butidaar, Chiffon, Satin Tanchoi, Kora Organza, Katan Silk) distinguished by weaving techniques like Kadwa, Meenakari, and zari work. The company has expanded with HKV Heirloom Care, a specialist restoration service for precious Banarasi textiles, and offers gift cards as an add-on product. All products feature authentic handloom craftsmanship with HastKalaPramanak certification and tested zari materials.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Banarasi Sarees Handwoven Banarasi silk sarees made by artisans in Varanasi using traditional techniques such as Kadwa weave, Meenakari, and tested zari, sold to individual consumers for weddings, ceremonies, and special occasions. Collections include Jangla, Butidaar, Chiffon, Satin Tanchoi, Kora Organza, and Katan Silk.
- HKV Heirloom Care Specialist restoration and care service for precious Banarasi silk textiles, offering rafu/mending, stain care, dyeing assessment, and real silver zari oxidation care for sarees, lehengas, dupattas, and stoles, targeting existing heirloom textile owners.
- HKV Benaras Gift Card Digital gift cards starting at Rs. 1,100.00, allowing recipients to purchase handwoven Banarasi sarees and products from the HKV Benaras storefront, targeting gift-givers and ceremonial occasions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Each saree is traceable to its Varanasi workshop and the specific artisan who wove it via a non-clonable HastKalaPramanak tag
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use HKVBenaras
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
HKVBenaras technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
HKVBenaras partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
HKVBenaras competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Karagiri: D2C brand specializing in Banarasi sarees with a focus on handloom authenticity and direct weaver sourcing. Closest head-to-head competitor in the authentic Banarasi D2C segment.
- Suta: D2C women's wear brand selling sarees, fusion wear, and home textiles online with a similar content-led, founder-story-driven brand playbook targeting urban Indian women.
- Tjori: Online-first retailer of handcrafted Indian textiles and apparel, directly comparable in D2C channel, handcraft positioning, and Indian-heritage storytelling.
- House of Hind: D2C Indian wear brand marketing premium ethnic and fusion pieces online with a similar demographic and direct-to-consumer model.
- Jaypore: D2C platform curating handcrafted Indian apparel and home textiles from artisan clusters. Comparable positioning as a craft-authenticity-led online retailer targeting similar buyers.
- Okhai: Online-first brand selling handcrafted Indian apparel and home textiles sourced from rural artisan clusters; comparable D2C handcraft business model targeting similar buyers.
Broad incumbents
- Nalli Silk Sarees: Established multi-generational silk saree retailer with strong Banarasi and Kanjivaram assortment and growing online presence; broader and more diversified than HKV but the most established D2C benchmark in the saree category.
- Fabindia: India's largest ethnic wear and home textiles retailer with deep artisan-sourcing roots and both offline and online channels. Comparable as the incumbent handcraft D2C benchmark, though much broader in assortment.
- Good Earth: Luxury Indian lifestyle brand retailing craft-led apparel, textiles, and home goods. Comparable premium positioning and craft narrative, though with a much wider assortment and offline presence.
Emerging players
- Indya (House of Indya): D2C ethnic and fusion wear brand targeting similar urban buyers with frequent new drops; comparable in channel and customer, though more trend-led and less handloom-authenticity-focused.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HKVBenaras social profiles
Digital presenceHKVBenaras financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HKVBenaras leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
HKVBenaras funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HKVBenaras M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HKVBenaras
What does HKVBenaras do?
HKV Benaras designs, sources, and sells authentic handwoven Banarasi silk sarees crafted by 500+ artisan weavers in Varanasi using traditional techniques such as Kadwa weave, Meenakari, and tested silver zari. The brand operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront, offers a specialist HKV Heirloom Care restoration service for precious Banarasi textiles, and sells gift cards. Each saree carries a non-clonable HastKalaPramanak tag for authenticity, artisan, and origin traceability.
Is HKVBenaras a public or private company?
HKVBenaras is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was HKVBenaras founded?
HKVBenaras was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is HKVBenaras based?
HKVBenaras is headquartered in Varanasi, India, in the Asia region.
How does HKVBenaras make money?
One revenue line is on record: E-commerce Saree and Silk Textile Sales.
Who are HKVBenaras's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Karagiri, Suta, Tjori, House of Hind, Jaypore and Okhai. Broad incumbents are Nalli Silk Sarees, Fabindia and Good Earth. Indya (House of Indya) is listed as an emerging player.
Does HKVBenaras have an API?
No public API is recorded for HKVBenaras.
What industry is HKVBenaras in?
HKVBenaras's product category is Handwoven Silk Textiles. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAJAGAH, Vintage & Heirloom Textile/Garment Conservation, with a secondary code of HSAJAGAG, Beaded/Sequined/Embellished Garment Cleaning & Repair. Its NAICS code is 45913 and its SIC code is 2300.