Think of all those sites that, for a few years now, have been spreading across the web, offering second-hand clothing carefully selected from all over the world. Now think of the same thing, but for furniture. In this field, there is an undisputed leader in France, recognized for the quality of its business: Selency. Behind this great success launched in 2014 are Charlotte Cadé and Maxime Brousse. Two thirty-something Parisians originally from Bordeaux who have the same delicate passion for vintage things as an old flea market jean dealer. The former even wrote a book about it entitled "There's no age for vintage". Clearly, we had to talk to her.
What do you think is the ideal piece of furniture for storing your clothes properly?
What always works are small wardrobes, as opposed to massive Norman wardrobes that don't fit in every space. They are called Parisian wardrobes. They have a dressing area and a shelf area. I am also obviously thinking of good old chests of drawers that have three drawers. They are a must for storing anything that doesn't need to be hung, and that generally represents quite a few things. At Selency, we sell old pieces, and their formats are standard. There is never anything too surprising. To find something, let's say, crazy, you have to go hunting for something contemporary.
Do you think there is a parallel between buying second-hand furniture and vintage clothing?
It's completely the same approach. Whether it's clothing or furniture, we first look for vintage for a style reason. But it's also a question of quality, of robustness. Old-fashioned manufacturing is always more artisanal, based on real know-how, with more resistant materials, fabrics, and more careful finishes. There are fewer hazards linked to machines and what the industrial era has brought subsequently. And then there is obviously an ethical dimension in this story. Today, people like to buy things in a more responsible, more committed way, and second-hand is clearly part of this niche. As with clothing, sellers of old furniture do a lot of sourcing work, as they say. They go to warehouses managed by large second-hand dealers. They also recover pieces from private homes, especially when there is a death in a family and it is a question of getting rid of things that now belong to the past. And then there is also everything that has to do with unpacking in the broad sense, in fairs and flea markets, as there are everywhere. To certify the vintage authenticity of the pieces sold on Selency, we work with experts who scrutinize every detail based mainly on photographic documents. This has no legal value strictly speaking, but it allows us, at least, to remove dubious pieces from the site. Today, 50% of the designer furniture that we are offered does not pass this expertise.
If we stick to the look, the style of their clothes, are there different types of furniture sellers?
Of course, as with any stereotype, there are antique dealers who look like lords of the manor. But we shouldn't limit ourselves to this image. In recent years, a new generation has established itself in this discipline with today's dress codes. These are people like those we meet every day, with a terribly modern look, who we wouldn't necessarily suspect are selling old furniture that sometimes costs a lot of money. There are also people who don't necessarily have a striking look, who don't even care, but who may specialize in selling very particular pieces, in very niche genres. It's silly to say, but we really have to keep in mind that clothes don't make the man in our environment.
On a more personal level, do we still have time to be interested in clothing when we spend so much time managing furniture?
My sensitivity to furniture and decoration comes from an interest, a quest for what is aesthetic in a broader way and where clothing occupies an important place. I have always been neat without being too sophisticated either: I am not as sharp as those who work in fashion, for example. At home, just, beauty must be at the service of use. I am not the type to wear heels to do household chores. I think this attitude comes from my mother. She has always been sensitive to pretty things, she has always taken care of her interior and her appearance. She passed this attention to me. Maxime, my partner is less picky. He spends less time than me looking, finding out information, comparing. If he buys, it is because he has a functional need, and he will just pay attention to whether it corresponds more or less to his style.
The development of Selency has led you and Maxime to embrace representative functions. You are business leaders, and you sometimes have to attend formal meetings. How do you adapt your silhouette in these cases?
We stay true to who we are. We don't dress up for an occasion, we keep a sort of common thread that is linked to our daily lives. Just, we might be a little more careful. We won't wear sneakers, for example, and we won't wear jeans . But it will be us. It has always been the case, by the way. We have never changed much since the first meeting where we had to shake hands and raise funds.