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J'avais parlé à la couturière avant la retouche.

J'avais parlé à la couturière avant la retouche.
I had spoken to the seamstress before the alteration.
From Lesson 304:Past participle agreement with causative faire (fait)·French

Questions & Answers about J'avais parlé à la couturière avant la retouche.

Why is the plus-que-parfait (avais parlé) used here instead of the passé composé (ai parlé)?
The plus-que-parfait (pluperfect) expresses an action that took place before another past event or timeframe. Here, it emphasizes that the conversation happened specifically before the past event of the alteration (avant la retouche).
Since this lesson covers past participle agreement, what would happen to parlé if we replaced à la couturière with the preceding pronoun lui (Je lui avais parlé)?
The past participle parlé would still not add an -e for agreement. Verbs conjugated with avoir only agree with a preceding direct object. Because you speak to someone in French (parler à), lui is an indirect object pronoun, so parlé remains invariable.
Is la retouche related to photo editing, or does it only mean clothing alterations?
It can mean both! A retouche is any touch-up, adjustment, or alteration. In the context of a couturière (seamstress), it specifically means clothing alterations. You will frequently see storefront signs offering Retouches in French dry cleaners (les pressings).
Could I say avant de la retouche instead of avant la retouche?
No, you must use avant la retouche. You use avant de only when it is followed by an infinitive verb (e.g., avant de retoucher - before altering). When followed directly by a noun, you just use avant.

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