Desert Vintage's Archivist Zachary Witter IDs Designer Treasures

Zachary Witter, archivist at Desert Vintage on New York's Lower East Side, identifies and dates rare designer garments for the shop, which has been open since 1974 and now has three locations, including Paris. Witter, who started his career cataloging Richard Avedon's work at the Avedon Foundation in Tucson, Arizona, uses his knowledge of fashion history and manufacturing tags to pinpoint pieces from collections by Prada, Alaïa, Martin Margiela, Balenciaga, and others. He notes that customers seek stories behind garments, not just clothing. Witter has encountered extraordinary items, such as a custom piece from Alexander McQueen's final Plato's Atlantis collection and a Malcolm McLaren-Vivienne Westwood T-shirt found in a storage unit. He also observes trends, like the enduring demand for Phoebe Philo's Céline and potential resurgence of Donna Karan. Desert Vintage attracts not only shoppers but also design teams and stylists seeking inspiration.