Artisans of
Change
Explore Handcrafted Collections
Founded by Adv. Vandana Chavan, the Savitri Marketing Institute for Ladies Empowerment (SMILE) champions the cause of craft with a purpose. Established in 2000, SMILE began as a modest institution dedicated to providing skill-based education to women living below the poverty line. Over time, SMILE expanded and evolved into a quaint handicraft store within Vishrambaug Wada, showcasing organic and indigenous products crafted by emerging women entrepreneurs.
Today, our store, located at Lokmanyanagar, Navi Peth, opposite SPM English School, features a diverse range of unique items created by underprivileged women from in and around the city. Each product in our collection is distinct, celebrating Maharashtrian culture while creating employment opportunities for making them more confident and economically independent. At SMILE, we believe in empowering women through their artistry, one craft at a time.
ACCREDITATIONS
Joint venture with Pune Municipal Corporation and Sfurti Mahila Mandal
Circular issued by the Commissionerate and Directorate of Municipal Administration, Mumbai under the Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana for setting up Marketing Centres on the basis of SMILE in other Municipal Corporations of Maharashtra
Recognised as a Good Practice by the Technical Advisory Committee of the UN Habitat under the Dubai International Awards for Best Practices and Policies
Received the Ahilyabai Holkar Puraskar from the Govt. of Maharashtra for Women Empowerment
Documented by the Regional Centre for Urban and Environmental Studies (RCUES), All India Institute of Local Self- Government, Mumbai for Selected Projects on Urban Poverty Alleviation.
Selected as one of the Good Practices under the "Register of Innovation" by the Govt. of India and UNDP under its National Strategy for Urban Poverty Alleviation