The Philosophy
L’Atelier del Tempo—The Atelier of Time—exists at the intersection of preservation and transformation, honoring the past while serving the present. This service is born from a profound belief: that the most sustainable, meaningful, and often most beautiful pieces in our wardrobes are not newly purchased, but lovingly restored, thoughtfully modernized, or carefully incorporated from previous generations.
In an era of disposable fashion and endless consumption, there is quiet luxury in wearing something with history—a vintage find that no one else owns, a piece inherited from your grandmother that carries her elegance forward, a beloved garment that deserves a second life adapted to your current style and body. These pieces tell stories. They connect us to the past while serving our present. They are the opposite of trend-driven consumption; they are timeless, personal, irreplaceable.
This service exists for those who understand that true style is not about constantly acquiring new things, but about curating a wardrobe of pieces you genuinely love—whether they’re new or decades old, purchased yesterday or inherited from family, pristine or beautifully worn. Sometimes the perfect piece for your wardrobe already exists; it simply needs expert eyes to recognize its potential and skilled hands to bring that potential to life.
The Experience
The Discovery Consultation (60-90 minutes, in-person at your home)
We begin by examining the piece or pieces you want to restore, modernize, or incorporate. I need to see them in person, touch the fabric, assess construction, understand their current condition and their potential. This is detective work, creative visioning, and technical assessment all at once.
Understanding the Piece: We discuss the garment’s history and significance. Is this a vintage find from a thrift store or estate sale that caught your eye? An inherited piece from your mother or grandmother that carries emotional weight? A beloved item from your own past that no longer fits your body or your current style but that you can’t bear to discard? A designer piece from decades past that’s beautifully made but feels dated? Understanding what this piece means to you and why you want to preserve or transform it helps me approach the project with appropriate reverence and creativity.
Condition Assessment: I examine the garment thoroughly with professional scrutiny. What is the fabric content and condition—is it strong and stable, or fragile and deteriorating? Are there stains, holes, or areas of wear that need addressing? How is the construction—hand-sewn or machine-made, with techniques that can be replicated or unique to its era? Are closures functional—do zippers work, are buttons intact, are hooks and eyes secure? Is the lining intact or does it need replacement? This assessment determines what’s possible and what approach we should take.
Envisioning Possibilities: Together, we explore what this piece could become. Perhaps it simply needs expert cleaning, minor repairs, and careful pressing to be wearable as-is—honoring its original form. Perhaps it needs modernization: shortening a hem to current proportions, tapering sleeves, adjusting shoulder pads, updating buttons or closures. Perhaps it needs more significant transformation: a dress becoming a skirt, a coat becoming a jacket, fabric from one garment becoming details on another. Perhaps it needs incorporation: vintage lace added to a modern dress, antique buttons replacing plain ones, fabric from an unwearable piece becoming a clutch or scarf. I bring creative vision informed by decades of fashion history and current style, seeing potential you might not imagine.
Technical Planning: Based on condition and vision, I create a detailed plan: what work needs to be done, in what order, by whom. Some work I can do myself or coordinate. More complex or specialized work—expert cleaning of delicate vintage fabrics, structural alterations, complex tailoring—requires artisans I’ve worked with and trust completely. I explain each step, estimated timeline, and associated costs so you can make informed decisions about how to proceed.
The Restoration or Transformation Process (timeline varies)
The work itself varies dramatically depending on the project’s scope and complexity. Some projects take days; others take weeks. Some require only my coordination and oversight; others require a team of specialized artisans.
Expert Cleaning: Vintage and delicate pieces often require specialized cleaning that typical dry cleaners cannot or will not handle. I work with conservators and specialist cleaners who understand how to treat fragile fabrics, remove old stains without damaging fibers, and restore color and texture without harsh chemicals. This is not throwing something in a machine; this is careful, knowledgeable treatment of textiles that may be decades or even a century old.
Repair and Restoration: Damaged areas are repaired with techniques and materials appropriate to the garment’s age and construction. Holes are mended—sometimes invisibly, sometimes with visible mending that becomes a beautiful detail. Seams that have given way are re-sewn. Linings that have deteriorated are replaced with new fabric that matches the original in weight and drape. Closures that no longer function are repaired or replaced with period-appropriate alternatives. The goal is always to preserve as much of the original garment as possible while making it functional and wearable.
Modernization and Alteration: If we’ve decided to update the piece for contemporary wear, alterations are made thoughtfully, always considering whether changes are reversible (important for valuable vintage pieces) and whether they honor the garment’s original character. Hems are shortened or lengthened to current proportions. Sleeves are tapered or shortened. Shoulder pads are removed or reduced. Waists are taken in or let out to fit your body. Buttons are updated to something more current while preserving originals in case you ever want to restore them. Every change is made with respect for the original while serving your current needs.
Transformation and Incorporation: For more dramatic projects—turning a dress into separates, creating a new garment from vintage fabric, incorporating vintage elements into modern pieces—I work with skilled tailors and seamstresses who can execute complex visions. Perhaps your grandmother’s wedding dress, too fragile and dated to wear as-is, becomes a cocktail dress that you can actually wear while preserving her lace and beading. Perhaps a vintage kimono becomes a stunning jacket. Perhaps fabric from an unwearable vintage piece becomes a clutch bag that you’ll use for years. The possibilities are limited only by the material’s condition and our creativity.
Quality Control: Throughout the process, I oversee every step, checking work quality, ensuring the vision is being realized, and making adjustments as needed. Nothing is returned to you until I’m completely satisfied that it meets Beiwe Lab standards—which means it must be something I would be proud to wear myself or give to someone I love.
What You Receive
The Restored or Transformed Piece
Your garment, returned to you wearable, beautiful, and ready to become part of your active wardrobe—no longer a piece that hangs unworn out of guilt or nostalgia, but something you’ll actually wear with joy and confidence.
Detailed Care Instructions
Specific guidance on how to care for this piece going forward: how to clean it, how to store it, how to handle it to ensure longevity. Vintage and restored pieces often require more careful treatment than modern garments, and I ensure you understand how to preserve your investment.
Documentation (for significant pieces)
For important or valuable pieces, I provide documentation of the work done: before and after photographs, description of processes and materials used, and provenance information if known. This is particularly important for inherited pieces with family history or valuable vintage designer pieces.
Styling Guidance
I show you how to wear your restored or transformed piece in current, relevant ways—how to style it so it feels fresh and intentional rather than costume-like, what to pair it with from your existing wardrobe, how to accessorize to make it feel authentically yours.
Service Structure and Pricing
Because every project is unique—varying dramatically in complexity, required expertise, and time investment—pricing is project-based rather than fixed.
Initial Consultation: SGD 150 (60-90 minutes in-person at your home)
This fee covers my time assessing your piece, envisioning possibilities, creating a technical plan, and providing you with a detailed proposal including scope of work, timeline, and estimated costs. If you proceed with the project, this consultation fee is credited toward the total project cost.
Project Pricing: Varies based on scope, typically SGD 400-1,200 total
After the consultation, I provide a detailed proposal breaking down:
- My coordination and oversight fee
- Costs for specialized services (cleaning, alterations, materials)
- Timeline for completion
- Payment structure
Example Projects Costs:
Simple Restoration (SGD 400-600):
- Expert cleaning of vintage piece
- Minor repairs (loose seams, missing buttons, small holes)
- Professional pressing
- Basic alterations (hem adjustment, taking in seams)
- Timeline: 2-3 weeks
Moderate Modernization (SGD 600-900):
- Cleaning and repair as above
- Significant alterations (resizing, updating silhouette, replacing lining)
- Updating details (new buttons, removing shoulder pads, adjusting sleeves)
- Timeline: 3-4 weeks
Complex Transformation (SGD 900-1,200+):
- Deconstructing one garment to create another
- Incorporating vintage elements into new piece
- Extensive reconstruction or redesign
- Timeline: 4-6 weeks or more
Additional Services:
Fabric Sourcing (if needed): If your project requires additional fabric—for example, replacing a deteriorated lining or adding fabric to make a piece larger—I can source appropriate materials. Cost varies based on fabric type and quantity needed.
Rush Service: If you need a piece completed for a specific event, rush service may be available for an additional 30% fee, depending on artisan availability and project complexity.
Investment Details
Initial Consultation: SGD 150 (credited toward project if you proceed)
Project Pricing: Typically SGD 400-1,200 depending on scope
What’s Included:
- In-person consultation and assessment at your home
- Creative visioning and technical planning
- Coordination with specialized artisans (cleaners, tailors, etc.)
- Quality control and oversight throughout process
- Detailed care instructions
- Styling guidance for wearing your restored piece
- Documentation for significant pieces
What’s Not Included:
- Costs of specialized services (cleaning, alterations, etc.) - these are detailed in project proposal
- Additional fabric or materials if needed - sourced at cost plus small coordination fee
- Travel to your home if outside central Singapore (SGD 50 surcharge beyond 15km)