Empire Customs’ tailor, Tamim Ahamdyar, …

Empire Customs’ tailor, Tamim Ahamdyar, can typically be seen sewing lapels, hemming trousers and nipping and tucking coats to fit just right. He had never before worked on a scarf — let alone one with temperamental loops that threatened to unravel completely with a single wrong move of his scissors. “This was actually like if you think of your grandmother knitting at the couch type vibe,” Abad said. “We do our best never to say no and say, ‘Come on in and give us a shot.’” Tamim began by cutting the 2 yards of fabric in half, stitching it up as he went along so that its fragile loops wouldn’t come undone. He sewed the base of the rectangle to the top of it, creating a loop big enough for Ibaka’s 235-pound frame. By 4 p.m., the scarf was on its way, and less than an hour later, Ibaka was walking into Scotiabank Arena with the fashion statement around his neck. Ibaka exploded for 30 points that night, including a game-winning 3-pointer.