Transcript
[00:00] SCREEN TEXT:
Suzhou Alley Women’s Mural
digital stories
[00:13] MIA WU: I didn’t think much at the time, I just know that I have to come here and pursue my dream. At least to get a diploma to be able to work in the garment or fashion industry.
[00:28] SCREEN TEXT:
A Tale of Two Tailors: Mia Wu
(Modernize Tailors)
[00:33] MIA WU: I’m originally from Taiwan. Who inspired me into a garment making industry, will be my mom. She taught me all the sewing, how to use sewing machine, needle. Mending our own clothes, sewing buttons are very normal for me. She was against me to get into fashion because [laughs] in Taiwan, they think, oh, you should get the office job, instead of being a skilled worker. A very typical Asian parent, they will want you to have a better job. That kind of mentality.
[01:16] I just start a fashion design program one week after I landing. It was pretty difficult because I don’t even have resources or money to or time to get into language school first. But I don’t think much because when you’re doing what you’re— you like to do, you are enjoy of all that process, you don’t think much. But English was very, very difficult for me at the time.
After the third term, we have a graduation collection. So every student need to have a three outfit designed and then made for the fashion show. Blanche Macdonald wanted to do something very fashionable, very trendy. But I changed my design, like, two months before the fashion show because I follow my feeling that I always want to work in a tailor shop.
[02:19] I was debating a lot when I changed my design because the school teacher was said, “oh if you change your design, you might not be able to put your collection into the fashion show.” At that moment you have to choose what— to follow your heart.
When I need to do the buttonhole, that’s the time that our school teacher recommend me about Modernize. I met Bill at the first time. And so, both we don’t like fast fashion. We chat over two hours at first meet. And before I go, I just asked him, like, “Can I come in to learn from you?” And then he welcomed me.
[03:05] Modernize established from 1930 in 1 West Pender. Even they moved across the street and then moved back to 5 West Pender. So I feel the root of Modernize is in Chinatown. That store is established from Bill’s father, not just only for family business. The father bring in a lot of tailor or the people from Toisan, helping immigrant family to be able to work and stay in Canada. That’s why I feel relate to this— this business, also Chinatown. As long as you want to work, you work hard, and then this place will welcome you, like— just like Bill welcomed me. And this is also the reason that encouraged me when Bill passed away to be able to took over the business.
[04:12] In pandemic, Chinatown become so bad. A lot of people tell me like, “oh Mia you should— maybe you should think about moving to another street” or— but for me is, if I move out from Chinatown, I feel that roots will be cut. If we choose to leave, it would be really sad. I wish that we can be able to stay and to help Chinatown. Like it’s our kind of a role or duty to stick there, right?
[05:00] So, in 2020, there’s one of our old customers, he bring back the first suits making from Modernize, was 1970. When I see him try on the suit, and it fits still so well, it looks so fashion— That’s the case why we are willing to spend hours and hours just to hand sewing, to make every small stitches. It’s for that. A good piece of clothing, people will appreciate the quality, and they’re willing to keep that over 30 years and one day pass them on to their child, their grandchild.
[05:48] When I know that people have their cheongsam from their grandparents, or you know, bring in to the shop and alter it to their sizes and wear for special events, I always feel like, “oh, this is why we’re here,” to help people.
I only have a one of my mom’s cheongsam, when she get engaged. I’ve always bigger than my mom and sister, but I fixed them to fit me. [laughs] So my mom’s engagement dress, two of my sister, they all wear that for their engagement ceremony, and also I wear that for my photo shoot and that’s— that’s really— glad that we can do that. It’s mean a lot, right?
It’s always remind me why I love to be a tailor, you know?
[06:46] SCREEN TEXT:
Created by
Catrina Longmuir
Co-Produced by
Catrina Longmuir
Yun-Jou Chang
Featuring
Mia Wu
[06:53] SCREEN TEXT:
Special Thanks
Elisa Yon
Helen Lee
Imogene Lim
Jackie Ing
Janet Wang
Jessica Quan
June Chow
Kelsey Lee
Laurie Landry
Lily Lee
Mengya Zhao
Sarah Ling
Stella Zheng
Winnie Cheung
[06:58] SCREEN TEXT:
Community Partners
Lim Sai Hor Kow Mock Benevolent Association
Chinatown Transformation Team
Chinatown Legacy Stewardship Group
UBC Quan Lee Excellence Fund for Asian Canadian and Asian Migration Studies
United Aunties Arts Association
Vancouver Heritage Foundation
[07:01] SCREEN TEXT:
Photos courtesy of Mia Wu
Photos of Anthony Blackmen by Jessica Venturi
Photos of Modernize Tailors by Liz Dungate
Archival photos courtesy of the Wong family
City of Vancouver Archives: CVA 790-2407
[07:06] SCREEN TEXT:
Captions and Subtitles
Catrina Longmuir
Translation
Yun-Jou Chang
Produced by
Cinevolution Media Arts Society
Made possible by
Canada Council for the Arts
BC Arts Council
[07:10] SCREEN TEXT:
This video was created on the traditional, unceded, and occupied territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
We respect, honour, and give thanks to our hosts.