A handful of traditional craft forms show up repeatedly in Phuket's markets and souvenir shops, worth recognising rather than treating as generic tourist merchandise.
Batik
A wax-resist dyeing technique producing patterned fabric, more associated with the wider Malay-influenced southern Thai and Malaysian region than with Thailand generally — Phuket's historical trade links with Malaysia and Indonesia are part of why it's commonly sold here.
Wood carving
Traditional carved items, ranging from small decorative pieces to larger furniture, often produced elsewhere in Thailand and sold through Phuket's markets and shops rather than made locally in volume.
Thai silk
Genuine Thai silk is a recognised craft tradition (most strongly associated with Thailand's northeast), sold in Phuket alongside cheaper synthetic imitations — a higher price and a slightly rough, irregular weave are reasonable signs of the real material.
Buying thoughtfully
Old Phuket Town's independent shops are generally a better source for genuinely locally-made or regionally-sourced craft items than mall souvenir stores, which lean toward mass-produced stock — see our shopping guide for more.