The Art of Shoe Repair in Phuket

Hand stitching with heart.

Timeless craftmanship that gives well loved items a second life

Pa Kratae - a Shoe Repair Artisan

In Thailand, the word “Pa” (ป้า) means Auntie. It is a respectful and affectionate way of addressing an older woman, even when she is not a family member. The word reflects warmth, familiarity, and the close relationships often found within Thai communities. Throughout this story, we will refer to Aunt Kratae as Pa Kratae, the name by which many local people know her.

Pa Kratae has been running her small roadside shoe repair shop in Phuket for more than 40 years. Her little shop is located in the heart of Phuket Town and has moved back and forth across the street many times over the years as the town changed with time.

Every repair is completed by hand

Originally from Bangkok, Pa Kratae moved to Phuket after getting married. After settling here, she had the opportunity to learn shoe repair from her husband’s family, eventually turning it into the lifelong profession she continues today. What she loves most about repairing shoes is the freedom it gives her, and the feeling that this is something she is truly skilled at and enjoys doing.

Pa Kratae does not use a sewing machine. Instead, she prefers hand stitching, the method she has practiced for decades. Every stitch reflects patience, precision, and a lifetime of experience.

Artisan Tools

Each repair is completed by hand using simple artisan tools rather than industrial machinery.

For Pa Kratae, repairing is better than buying new. Many shoes hold emotional value, and some cannot simply be replaced once they are gone. Whether the shoes are expensive or inexpensive, she repairs every pair with equal care and charges a fair standard price for all.

Many customers compliment her beautiful stitching, detailed craftsmanship, and quality work. She takes great pride in her skills, and many loyal customers continue returning to her shop again and again.

She says she will continue this work until the age of 70, or for as long as her body allows.

Today, Pa Kratae repairs shoes, replaces soles and zippers, repairs bags, and does all kinds of hand-sewn repair work.

Although this craft has been part of her entire life, none of the younger generation in the family plans to continue the profession. This traditional repair craftsmanship may end with Pa Kratae’s generation.

Hand stitching with heart.

Timeless craftmanship that gives well loved items a second life

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For Thai Gaia,

We are local people who grew up in this neighborhood and have known Aunt Kratae’s little repair shop since childhood. This time, when we brought our shoes back for repair once again, we had the opportunity to tell her:

“You are truly a wonderful shoe repair artisan.”

Because she has the ability to bring damaged belongings back to life instead of letting them be thrown away, extending their usefulness for many more years.

The shoes we brought to her are our travel shoes. They have been with us for more than seven years. They are the shoes that make us feel comfortable, confident, and have never once hurt our feet.

We believe that buying something new is easy.

But preserving and repairing something old is much harder.

Every time we think about throwing away a pair of shoes, we return to the feeling we had when we first found them, wanted them, and finally brought them home. We remember how happy we were at that moment, and because of that, we feel they deserve to be cared for and valued for as long as possible. And we believe Pa Kratae feels the same way.

From Thai Gaia’s perspective, Pa Kratae’s story beautifully reflects the principles of sustainable living. Every time we choose to repair instead of replace, we are doing more than reducing waste. We are helping to conserve the natural resources, energy, and materials required to manufacture new products. By supporting local artisans like Pa Kratae, we are also helping preserve traditional skills, sustain local livelihoods, and celebrate the value of craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations.

The story of repairing a single pair of shoes may seem small, but it contributes to several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

🌿 SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and ProductionExtending the life of products, reducing waste, and encouraging mindful consumption.

🌿 SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and CommunitiesSupporting local businesses and preserving the cultural identity and resilience of communities.

🌿 SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic GrowthRecognizing and supporting skilled artisans whose craftsmanship creates lasting value.

Thai Gaia would be delighted if Pa Kratae’s story inspires you to look around once more and think about whether there is a pair of shoes that once carried you through meaningful places and cherished memories, shoes that deserve a second life through the hands of a skilled artisan.

If you would like to repair your shoes with Pa Kratae, Thai Gaia would be happy to help deliver them to her workshop, where they can be carefully restored and brought back to life once again.

____Photo and Story by Thai Gaia 🍃

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