Our Story

Two promises.
One beautiful
purpose.

The Gokhale Foundation is a social enterprise built on a simple belief: that a handcrafted object and a child's education are not separate things — they are two sides of the same act of purchase.
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The first Promise

Amplifying India's craft heritage

India is home to some of the world's most extraordinary artisanal traditions — many passed down over centuries, many quietly disappearing. We travel the country to find and partner with craftspeople who carry these traditions forward.

From Daya Bhai's 500-year-old Bhujodi weaving in Kutch, to Ajrakh printing traced to the priest-king of Mohenjodaro, to the Belgian-introduced embroidery of Kanyakumari's village women — we celebrate the full depth of India's living craft.
The Second Promise

Funding every child's right to learn

We believe that education is the most powerful force for change. Every rupee of profit from every purchase goes directly toward feeding, educating, and supporting underprivileged children through our three school partnerships in and around Pune.

School meals, books, infrastructure improvements, clothes, shoes, and counselling — we show up for these children in every way we can, in every season, at every milestone.

Born of a belief that beauty and purpose  belong together

"Gokhale Foundation began as a quiet, deeply personal effort to give back, and has grown into a thoughtful, design-led space rooted in a deep love for Indian craft. We are passionate about preserving and celebrating the beauty, skill, and stories behind handmade work, bringing together artisans, traditions, and a contemporary aesthetic that feels both elegant and relevant.

Alongside this, we extend our work to supporting young children, creating opportunities and exposure in a way that feels natural and integrated. At its heart, the foundation is about valuing craftsmanship, nurturing talent, and building something that is as meaningful as it is beautiful."
Poulomi Gokhale
Founder and Curator , Gokhale Foundation & The GF Store

Beauty is never accidental

Every object that leaves an artisan's hands carries the weight of years of learning. We don't believe craft is coincidence. We believe it is intention, patience, and repetition — passed down through generations without a classroom in sight.

Children are the whole point

Everything we do circles back to this. A meal eaten. A school attended. A future that wasn't foreclosed. The artisan who sells through us is also the parent whose child now has options. That chain matters to us more than any margin.

Slowness is a virtue

We are not built for speed. Ajrakh is not built for speed. Neither is trust. We would rather grow carefully — one maker, one buyer, one relationship at a time — than scale something hollow.

Support the work directly

All our charitable work is done through The Gokhale Foundation Trust — a registered public charitable trust. If you would like to contribute directly to our work with children, you can donate to the Trust. Every rupee goes to the schools and children we partner with.

 Donate to The Trust