Now at Snake: Every other Friday or so an interview with a person in good standing of the newsletter whose taste in vintage, furniture, collectibles and adjacent fields is worth celebrating and learning from. Sellers, buyers, set decorators, artists, adjacents, etc…
Here’s the seventh…
Chad Senzel / IG / New York / Vintage clothing dealer based in Chinatown, NYC
Chad finds so much good stuff, esp. designer, and sells it so consistently (at his rack on Ludlow and Canal, weekends from noon to 7, on good weather days) that I don’t know how he does it.
Q&A 007
Fav flea market?
Predictable response, but Brimfield—so expansive and unexpectable.
Best flea market day ever—what did you get?
Hard to pinpoint a “best day ever” but earlier in 2022 I had my best flea market find ever, a Margiela velvet top from the infamous 1994 Doll’s collection:
Best eBay purchase?
For a while, I was on the hunt for the Tommy Boy Records/Carhartt/Shawn Stussy jackets. I’ve now completed the set, thanks to eBay. The first one I bought was in March 2017, shortly after I had moved to the city, they were a bit cheaper back then:
Best Craigslist find?
When I was starting to get into audio equipment (I’m still a neophyte), I wanted to piece together a good quality yet affordable setup. I got a good Technics table, found a Harman Kardon receiver at a local upscale thrift store, but was clueless about speakers. I took to an audio message forum asking for recommendations on something that sounded nice that had decent built in bass as I didn’t want to have a sub. Several users recommended I look for a pair of EPI 100s, so I did. I took to Craigslist and there was a set sitting right online, 10 mins from my home, being sold by a guy who had recently refoamed them himself. That was maybe seven years ago, and I still have them, love them, and have yet to fix them in any way (come by my showroom and you can hear them for yourself).
Best LiveAuctioneers find?
Have yet to make a purchase on LA.
IG seller account you hang out on/look at their stuff the most?
I try not to dwell on Instagram too much anymore, but for several years @procell was the be-all and end-all account for me. He’s largely responsible for the state of the vintage clothing market today and his instagram going back several years feels like the original “moodboard.”
Thing you most regret passing on?
In 2015, I was really searching for a pair of royal Jordan 1s for myself to wear. 1985 would of course be preferable, but the 2001 retro would also suffice. I was awaiting the right pair at my desired price point (didn’t wanna spend more than $300) via my eBay saved search. While I did end up finding a 2001 pair, in the process I passed up on a 1985 pair for $400 that belonged to and were stage worn by Bruce Springsteen’s drummer. Big regret for more than one reason.
Best thing you got for insanely cheap?
Found a deadstock Jenny Holzer truisms tee at Brimfield in 2018 for $25. This was at the end of the second day so presumably many people had already passed through this seller's booth. Frank Ocean had recently worn the shirt on stage so its value was at an all time high—I didn’t sell it though. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Best thing you overpaid for?
I bought an Eames storage unit (ESU 4x2) a few years ago. I don’t think I overpaid, as I still got it for quite a bit less than its retail price, but the cost of it was quite a stretch for me:
(Photo of ESU in transit)
Favorite piece of furniture you own?
Aforementioned ESU.
What’s one thing you own that you won’t ever sell?
I have an early Stussy cap (mid to late 80s I believe) that is quite hard to find, a perfect example of the beauty and simplicity of varsity style text, and it fits my melon quite well. I don’t anticipate selling that any time soon.
Piece you have now that you despise and want to replace?
I don’t despise it, but my bed frame is Ikea. It looks nice enough and is plenty comfortable, I just don’t sleep well knowing I own anything from Ikea (pun intended).
Who do you think sold more records: Nelly Furtado or Three 6 Mafia?
Hopeful and probably Three 6, their discography is way more extensive.
Secret spot that you love but won’t tell anyone about? (please describe as judiciously as possible while omitting any identifiable characteristics)
Maybe not a secret, but there’s a consignment store in the town that I’m from that is a place I thoroughly look forward to going to when I visit home. Have found quite a few special things there over the years.
Rarest/most canon vintage thing you have but never wear?
Have a wonderful near deadstock (very dark) late 70s Levi’s type 3 jacket that fits me well and hangs in my closet, but I’ve never worn it. Far from super rare but pretty damn canon right?
Most jealousy-inducing thing you’ve seen? (e.g. I saw a guy in Foremost jeans once in 2012 and I’ve never gotten over it)
In the spring I saw an old fella on 14th wearing a really nice Levi’s Type 2 jacket. From talking to him I got the impression he bought it on Etsy several years ago and did not buy it himself in the 50s.
Favorite Russian novelist?
I do not read novels, but if I did, I’d read Russian novels.
Is there a field of collecting you are looking to get into in the near future? (Furniture era/paper/autographs/stamps/model trains/computer shirts/90s Harley shirts/digital watches/lighters/slot cars/faberge eggs/Amish quilts etc)
I guess more into furniture (knowing noteworthy designers) and watches (understanding age, value, collectability). However, both of those things tend to be quite space- and finance-prohibitive, respectively. I really think it’s hard to get into researching and learning about something without inherently wanting to own it. [feel that-Snake]
What’s the item that’s been on your watchlist the longest without you having pulled the trigger?
A press photo of Dennis Hopper and David Bowie during the filming of Basquiat. It’s cheap, but I doubt I’ll ever cop.
Is the best vintage/furniture online or in the wild?
The best of everything is still in the wild. Just requires more effort to track down.
Has all the cool shit been discovered? (Yes or no answer only)
Absolutely NOT.
Any vintage accounts you want to rep or boost? Furniture? (feel free to include local spots)
I really like @ben_rah for furniture and @outermost_salvage for clothing stuff and catalog scans on his stories.
Follow Chad on Instagram.