“In continuing this dying trade, I hope to keep these traditions alive and pass down my designs to the younger generation who can learn to appreciate the beauty of my handy work.”

Third-Generation Owner of Sindart

Our Urban Explorer

Could you please introduce yourself to our guests?

I am Miru Wong, the third-generation designer, and artisan of Sindart, a store specialising in colourful, hand-embroidered shoes & accessories. This shop was established by my grandfather since 1958.

Can you tell us a bit about your background? Did you grow up in Hong Kong?

I lived in Jordan with my grandparents since I was a child and our shop is also located in this district as well.

You specialize in the art of Cantonese embroidery for shoes and slippers. Can you tell us what your fascination is with this craft?

I remember that my grandparents would always bring back embroidered shoes that they would make at home. I was fascinated by all the beautiful colours and patterns, and when I was very young I would imitate my grandparents and attempt to draw on the slipper with a colour pencil. They would tell me that it was not a drawing and then taught me how to properly embroider a pair of slippers. I was able to embroider simple patterns at the age of six and made my first pair of shoes when I was in secondary school.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Creating this art form gives me so much satisfaction and meaning. My whole life revolves around this business. I love every aspect of what I do so much that it does not even feel like a job – from designing the shoes to embroidering them and communicating the meaning behind each pair to my customers.

What do you find most challenging about your job?

At the moment, I think the most challenging part of my job is the sourcing of materials. After Covid, many factories and shops specialising in these materials have closed down so some of the colours and fabrics are no longer available. This makes my job quite challenging but I do my best to find substitutes that work just as well.

What does a day in the life of Ms. Miru Wong look like?

For me, every day revolves around my store and embroidering shoes. I will wake up extra early – at around 7-8 am in the morning to make shoes because our shop opens up at 2pm. I will also go visit different stores to source the materials I need for my next design. Throughout the day, I will handle any administrative work that needs taking care of.

What does “Urban Explorer” mean to you and how do you think you fit into this term?

To me, an urban explorer is someone who is fascinated not only by what’s on the surface but digs deep down into understanding the history and stories of that place. I certainly consider myself to be an urban explorer because I love the history of traditional embroidery work and the story behind every symbol. In fact, I will go to various places to source my materials to help me find inspiration. In addition to this, urban exploration can be indulged through various forms of exploration like gastronomy, for example. In doing so, I like to combine my passion for embroidery with food by visiting different restaurants and taking a photo of my slippers wherever I go to remind myself of all the places I have travelled to on foot.

Slipping Into A Piece of Cultural Heritage

How have you connected Chinese traditional embroidery with Hong Kong’s cultural heritage?

My dream is to incorporate more Hong Kong elements into my own embroidery. There is so much history behind traditional Chinese embroidery so I would love to fuse together new patterns, meanwhile inheriting traditional ones, and bring them together in a more cohesive way.

What is your motivation for continuing in this dying trade?

Having been surrounded by shoes and embroidery work since I was just a child, it has really been a part of my life, my family, and me. In a way, each time I produce a new pair of shoes, I feel as if I am giving birth to my own baby. In continuing this dying trade, I hope to keep these traditions alive and pass down my designs to the younger generation who can learn to appreciate the beauty of my handy work.

Where does your inspiration for each embroidered pattern come from?

Inspiration comes from all facets of my daily life and every element in my surrounding has a meaning behind it, which are the motifs of Chinese culture. For example, the peony is the king of the blossoms and represents feminine beauty. For new designs, I gain inspiration simply by reading traditional stories. I also enjoy speaking with my customers to find out what kinds of animals or colours they like, so I can tailor-make special patterns for them.

Exploring The City

What inspires you to travel?

For me, I personally like to combine my travels with my work. Whenever I consider a vacation destination, I will always evaluate whether it is a good place to take photos of my products. I will plan out what slippers to bring and how I can style them with different outfits that could then be shared on our Sindart social media account. I thoroughly enjoy learning about new cultures and it makes me realise how styling different OOTDs (outfits of the day) can bring people together no matter where they come from.  

What other destinations are on your bucket list?

I have an obsession with bright and vibrant colours and patterns so I would love to visit India to learn more about their embroidery techniques and the fabrics they use for their garments. I would also like to visit Egypt someday because I think mummies are extremely fascinating and there is so much rich history and mystery revolving around this destination as well. 

In 3 words, how would you describe Hong Kong?

Energy, Home, Unstoppable

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