Tailor Made: Story of Winnipeg tailor’s escape from Vietnam to Canada

The man behind Tam Custom Tailor, a Winnipeg tailoring shop on Ellice Avenue that’s been in business for nearly 40 years, shares his incredible journey from escaping his home country and making his way to Canada in a new, short documentary helmed by a young, Vietnamese filmmaker.

“I hope people like it and see what I did, I did for real. I did from my heart,” explained Tam Nguyen.

“I do everything. I do custom-made, I make suits, I make the dress for wedding. I make costume for movie. Little bit of everything.”

Just over 43 years ago, before arriving in Canada, a penniless Nguyen was able to flee Vietnam only because a stranger let him onto his migrant boat.

“I asked him, let me go and I owe you. Lucky, he say, okay you can pay me when you get to a third country. I have a chance to go so I got lots of people being good to me, help me,” he explained.

A sentiment that resounded with filmmaker Quan Luong, who says Nguyen’s story caught his interest, and sharing the story meant so much to him, and his friends and family.

“The craft of tailoring just reminds me so much of my own craft, and it looks really good on camera so that’s a bonus,” said Luong.

Nguyen’s story also hit a personal chord, as Luong himself was born and raised in Vietnam.

“After I turned 18 I left the country myself to find a better life in Canada. I really related to his story.”

Tailor Made had its debut at the FascinAsian Film Festival, and the pair are prepping for its showing in Winnipeg at the end of May. Luong says the story is meant to celebrate immigrants as Nguyen tells his story of obstacles, perseverance, and triumph.

“Before you get in a boat you know, freedom or die, or if you survive you will help other so I did. I promise myself and I say I will help other. First my family, so I did,” said Nguyen.

“I did bring 15 family of my nephew and my niece. 15 family in Winnipeg.”

The 58-year-old didn’t stop there. Through his work at Tam Custom Tailor, he’s been able to make clothes for celebrities like Philip Seymour Hoffman, Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Swayze, and Everything Everywhere All At Once star, Ke Huy Quan, who is currently filming a new movie in Winnipeg.

Nguyen also has a side for philanthropic work. He founded the since-closed charity, Canadians Helping Kids in Vietnam, which was in operation for 25 years. Closer to home, he’s worked with local charities like Siloam Mission and organizes food drives for the community.

“I think Asian audiences will really relate to his story and really admire his journey but also Canadians and viewers of all diasporas will all … understand why people leave everything behind for a better life. Sometimes people like Tam didn’t have a choice but it can bring a lot of goodness and he’s gone on to help so many people,” said Luong.