In a small shop tucked into Hong Kong’s Jordan district, Miru Wong is keeping a near-seventy-year-old craft alive one stitch at a time.
She is the third-generation owner of Sindart, a hand-embroidered footwear atelier founded in 1958, and she has spent her life turning what began as a childhood apprenticeship into a modern, thriving business – one that honours traditional patterns while still making room for something new. Her story is a reminder that heritage doesn't have to mean standing still.
“My work is a bridge between the past and the present,” she says. That bridge runs in both directions: Wong preserves the shop's classic embroidered designs and techniques while also building modern collections with contemporary patterns and silhouettes for daily wear, and she runs workshops and training programmes to pass the craft on to the next generation.
Wong's passion started long before she thought of it as a career. “My passion truly started in my childhood, growing up surrounded by embroidered shoes, also with the tools and materials,” she says.
“Watching the older generations pour their hearts into this craft deeply inspired me.” She started learning embroidery around age seven and picked up shoemaking a few years later.
The turning point came later, at university: “I did my university graduation project on preserving this craft; that's when I realised I had to take over.” From there, the plan became concrete – “I put a rebranding plan into action, took over the shop, and now share this modernised heritage with every visitor.”
My goal is for visitors to appreciate the craft of handmade shoes, and to understand the unique stories behind my designs.– Miru Wong, Sindart
A visit to Sindart can take several forms.
“Sindart welcomes guests to browse and purchase our embroidered shoes, which include slippers and various footwear styles with symbolic patterns,” Wong explains.
Products are available both in-store and online, and for guests who want something more personal, “we also accept custom orders using their own designs, and offer embroidery workshops for those interested in learning the craft.”
What she wants visitors to leave with goes beyond the object itself: “My goal is for visitors to appreciate the craft of handmade shoes, and to understand the unique stories behind my designs, whether they are traditional patterns or modern creations.”
Wong's most memorable guest needs no introduction: “The most memorable guest was Iris Apfel. She visited my shop and picked the shoes herself. She gave me a lot of encouragement, telling me to keep preserving my family business and never give up. Her words have stayed with me as a great reminder.”
As for unusual requests, one trend stands out: “I get many requests for special occasions, but a unique trend is customers coming to me to design and make custom pet slippers and shoes. They look for specialised embroidery that represents their beloved pets.”
This article was first published in Travel Weekly Asia’s July–September 2026 issue. Read more from the issue.