Posted on Aug 05, 2024 at 7:04 pm by

By Joshua Anderson for the Peekskill Business Improvement District

Step into 222MuchSwag in Peekskill, New York, and you’ll be immediately enveloped by vibrant colors, unique styles, and a captivating 90’s aesthetic that brings back the best of nostalgia. This vintage clothing store, owned by twin brothers Brian and Matt James, is another hidden gem for fashion in Peekskill, found above the Peekskill Coffee House, tucked into the right hallway with signs that lead the way. On Instagram, the twins proudly declare: “Welcome To The Coolest Store In The World.”

Located at 105 S. Division Street, 222MuchSwag offers a specially curated collection that focuses on looks from the iconic 90’s, ensuring every item is reflective of that decades’ character. Since the James brothers opened three years ago, the store has become a celebrated piece of the city, open daily from 1pm to 6pm.

Balancing their roles as entrepreneurs and musicians, the James brothers share their passion for blending the old with the new, creating a unique experience for all who step through their doors. The brothers’ true passion is for fashion and music alike. Their music exudes the love they have for fashion and the history of rap. Starting as independent artists in 2009, the brothers gained a following separately before joining up in 2013, using the name ‘Trippy Twins’ as they made music together. The twins don’t make music as much anymore; the store takes up most of their time as they also venture out into the city for pop outs.

“As much as we are the same, we each have our own individual style,” Brian said.

Both compliment each other as they manage their business. One worked at an online marketing company, doing search engine optimization for other people’s websites to show up on Google. The other worked in retail his whole life–the last job was as an assistant manager. Both brothers agree their previous 9 to 5 jobs prepared them well for this endeavor, though it wasn’t really their plan.

“We underestimated how much work the store would be. It definitely causes us to bump heads a little bit,” Matt said. “When it gets way harder, that’s when the work starts,” he added.

They don’t have much free time now, but they are proud to have a growing business in the city they grew up in.

“Online sales are huge. It’s still like the biggest part of our business. We definitely wouldn’t be able to have this space without the online sales,” Matt said. He added that Facebook Marketplace and Instagram are extremely integral to the shop, as well as their website, noting that their sales are about 70% online versus 30% in person. Even with all the hard work and the butting heads involved, the brothers are thankful for their business, saying that the most important thing is having freedom for the people around them, which this business helps them do.

Even though 222MuchSwag has been open for three years, both Brian and Matt have been reselling vintage items for over five years. The store offers a $2 deal with any item found in a certain bag and a $10 rack of T-shirts. Individual items range from $2 for common items to $450 for rare vintage pieces. The twins emphasize that everything in the store is hand-picked and reflects their personal tastes, ensuring that they would wear or use any item they sell. From the clothes to the rare collectibles, the brothers stick to their 90s style by using neon shelves and red paint on the walls– keeping a bright, colorful atmosphere in the store.

“The times when it was hardest for us to keep it going were the times that we found the greatest rewards and what we were doing, which is crazy,” Brian said.

The brothers wanted to ensure that young creatives understand that message: when times get hard and life throws you curveballs, that is when you need to work even harder–that is what will separate you from everybody else.

222MuchSwag is open every day from 1pm to 6pm. They can be found online at https://222muchswag.com/. The shop is also on Instagram and Facebook. You can find their music by searching up ‘Trippy Twins’ on Youtube.

While in Downtown Peekskill, be sure to visit our other shops: Make a day of it.  Visit 222Much Swag and Stark Vintage. Enjoy lunch, dinner or coffee at one of our downtown restaurants and eateries.

If you are a downtown business, and would like to be considered for an upcoming profile article, please email us at peekskillbid1@gmail.com. You should have a compelling or unknown story that will attract new visitors to Downtown Peekskill.

Photos by Joshua Anderson. (C) 2024 Peekskill Business Improvement District.