Senchi Designs

[JG H]

Has Senchi Designs packed it in? Are they done? Their website feels like it.

[Haakon R]

My impression was that their stuff sold like hot cakes, but you’re right – not a lot on their page to incentivize me to come back.

OOS on Garage grown gear as well

[JG H]

They haven’t had leggings available for a long time. The website feels like they just removed the ability to shop, turned off the lights, and walked away…

[Scott S]

I think they are the victims of their own popularity .. super high demand and they may have gotten tired of people asking when X will be back in stock and so took it all off-line.  They say a bunch of new stuff is coming soon and I believe them.

[baja bob]

I think you have to wait for the next “drop.” The last drop was their updated Alpha 90 zip hoody. Supplies didn’t last long.

[George W]

The last email from them was on Dec 17th for a drop. The next week.

[Brad Rogers]

They just released a new drop of hoody’s in December with an updated (and refined) cut that sold out in hours so I doubt they’re done.  They simply can’t produce them fast enough.  I’m not sure if that’s due to material issues (I hear Polartec has issues with Alpha Direct) or labor.  For all I know it may be one or two people putting out all those hoodies.

[JG H]

Ah. Gotcha. I wasn’t aware they’d switched to drops and unlinked the views to all the products they don’t have in stock.

[JCH]

BTW, Timmermade’s prices are in line with Senchi, AND they are running a sale right now.  I’ve never laid hands on a Senchi piece, but it’s hard to imagine how it could be better made than Timmermade.

[Terran Terran]

They all seem to be good quality. The differences are in the trim and the subsequent weight.

[HkNewman]

Their “alpha” clothing is good (have both hoody, then bottoms) .. but gotta stay tuned to their website as the crowd really wants them.  Same with some of their competitors tbh (have “alpha” sleep socks from a competitor and after ordering it took a month or so).

Found Senchi’s XL fit pretty good though alpha-direct fabric will stretch.  If your sizing is “off” from standard, probably see if you can get a custom fit from Timmermade though.

[JG H]

I think I’d rather play a lottery that pays out millions if I win rather than one that bestows on me the supreme privilege of buying a pair of pants from someone. Silly me…

[Terran Terran]

You might win a million bucks, but you won’t have an Alpha.

[JG H]

#truth

[Terran Terran]

Think of it as a small business with a single person trying to run everything while trying to to keep prices down without importing from China. While we’re used to buying of the shelf, it’s not economically feasible for small business.  Of course we could always buy a hoodie from Wally world. Then you’ll know it’s made in China. Nothing elitist. Just a guy trying to make a living.

[Scott S]

Timmermade’s prices are in line with Senchi, AND they are running a sale right now

Timmermade is worse than Senchi, I tried to score from their latest drop but they sold out immediately.  After that debacle they have since switched to a lottery system.  Today it’s harder to get something from Timmermade than it is to get a prime backcountry permit.

Superior Fleece is dropping AD hoodies this Monday at 9AM CST.  The last Senchi drop sold out in an hour.

Hopefully the AD madness will die down soon..

[Bill Budney]

If you are willing to pay more for quicker purchase, then maybe giving a pattern and some fabric to a seamstress might get the job done?

If you don’t know where to find a seamstress, check the local dry cleaners.

My Senchi is really nice, with terrific attention to detail and a fit that would be hard to beat. But 80% of the magic is in the fabric. I mean, almost any sweater kind of thing would be fine.

Personally, I like a full front zipper for dumping heat and easy layering (also something that a seamstress can add).

[JCH]

Hopefully the AD madness will die down soon..

Not if everyone keeps clamoring for it as if there is nothing anywhere near its equal. I own both AD90 and MH Airmesh and find them essentially equal in performance and prefer the Airmesh for durability…not to mention it often can be found for 1/2 the cost.

If you prefer AD and are willing to pay and wait, great.  If not you may want to try Airmesh.

[David D]

I bought my Airmesh for $40 Can at the yearly end sale a few years back.  Chasing trends (AD) come with a stiff price.

Saw a post recently from a cottage maker saying the AD is terrible for consistency and quality control (shedding) and he won’t even buy a roll unless getting a sample to inspect first.  This probably puts a pinch on ability to crank them out.

[Jerry Adams]

https://www.fieldmag.com/articles/senchi-designs-ultralight-fleece-hoodie-interview

Interesting story about Senchi

The creator, Ryan Wyndus misheard the phrase “satin sheets” as “senchi” from which derived the name of his company

I think he makes them in Portland Oregon.  I’ll have to look him up.

He appears to have a project of connecting electrical wires to fungi and amplifying the signal into headphones.

Nice pictures of snow scenes, mushrooms, electronic circuits, leaves, conifer trees on his website https://senchidesigns.com/

[JG H]

Airmesh… for the win. LOL

[Terran Terran]

I find Senchi is cheaper than many of the other more traditional hoodies offered. As for scarcity, try buying a Durston or one of the many other small industry offerings.

[sbennett3705]

Be cautious of the new Senchi sizing. I have an older XL hoodie that fits reasonably well. Just ordered the new XL hoodie 90 and sent it back – it was way too large, and in strange ways, like the sleeves were 3-4” too long and the hood was massive (possibly to contain a helmet?)

As for timing the drops, this is a total pain. As a consumer I don’t have time to continuously check. I expect in-stock and on-time delivery.

[George W]

In an interview with a small business they said the drop system works great. No need to monitor orders, shipping, website, answering questions, etc until the day of the drop.

Then all the attention is directed to filling the orders for a few days, after that it’s back to just making product or ordering it in. Fewer people need to be involved and it’s a far less hectic pace.

[Terran Terran]

Leaves time to talk to the fungi.

[Author]

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