The Hands of Time: Sakae’s Alterations

On Young Street, the quiet hum of sewing machines and the hiss of steam fill a small shop where Sakae, now in his 80s, still works with the same devotion he had when he first picked up a needle at 15.

Tape measure draped around his neck, spools of thread neatly lined, he approaches each garment with patience and precision. For him, clothing is more than fabric, it’s memory, identity, and self-expression. A hem adjusted for a wedding, a sleeve altered for a graduation, a seam repaired on a beloved coat, his work shapes life’s milestones.

In an age of fast fashion, Sakae’s Alterations is a reminder of tradition and craft. To watch him work is to witness artistry, resilience, and the timeless value of hands that never stop creating.