Darlings, there’s a new thrift store in town and it’s totally glorious. People of 2morrow (65 Franklin St) is a perfect blend of whimsical vintage and mindfully curated products. Walking through the bright, open and airy space, you’ll find womens and mens wear, jewelry fit for minimalist lovers and wood nymphs, sweet home goods, and twee gifts for tots.
I spied a creamy white Escada sweater for under forty bucks and an adorable vintage kids jumper from the 1940s. The store also sports a weekly pop-up shop to feature local designers, keep an eye out for intricate jewelry, candles and apothecary, and housewares.
People of 2morrow makes me feel like I’m shopping in my older sister’s closet. The cooler, better dressed, older sister. Maybe she works on film shoots learns French in her spare time and loves dinner parties.
The store gives a cozy and welcoming feel, not to mention it’s impeccably staged like a home. I sat down with Sybil and her husband Dan, owners of People of 2morrow to muse over their store, style, and what it’s like to run a business with your significant other.
GP: What inspired you to start People of 2morrow? What were you doing before?
Sybil: We’ve been developing the concept(s) behind People of 2morrow for a while now, and every step of this business has unfolded in a really beautiful organic way.
Dan has been co-owner of Bembe nightclub in South Williamsburg for 10 years now, and I, Sybil, have been in the fashion industry for 12 years, and own the flower company, Fleur de Vin Brooklyn. Bembe was built with 80% recycled and salvaged materials and is one of the most diverse, multicultural nightclubs in Williamsburg. I love shopping vintage and second-hand locally and globally; it makes styling more fun, and there’s so much good stuff out there that should be put to new and better use. As individuals and business owners, our shared values and aesthetics are deeply rooted in the same world awareness.
The first project we worked on together was the renovation of our townhouse in Greenpoint. It was a huge stepping stone to the development of People of 2morrow. Our townhouse is from the 1890s, and we used the wood we gutted from the interior to build out the space in a new fresh way. Inside, we call our design aesthetic Brooklyn Riad – though it’s not solely Moroccan inspired. We laid down 100 year old vintage French tiles in the kitchens on each floor (we rent out the bottom two floors) and filled every space with refurbished furniture that has a cool beachy driftwood vibe. We like to mix vibrant tribal prints with European designs and sensibilities – it’s an inspiring, global, lively space, and really informed how we designed People of 2morrow. When we had our daughter,  we embraced shopping second hand and vintage for her as well – kids grow out of everything so fast – and then it just became a lifestyle for us as a whole family.
Our daughter was a major motivating factor behind finally launching People of 2morrow. We wanted to form a business we could participate in as a family, that benefited and enriched all of our lives individually and as a whole. We buy and sell men’s, women’s, and kid’s clothing and accessories, and it was important for us to create a lively, social, worldly environment that our daughter could be a part of and grow up in. She has a little teepee and play space on the upper mezzanine. It’s adorable. We are all very happy here. It’s a dream come true.
GP: What is your vision when picking products for the store? What are your current favorite pieces?
Sybil: As far as the clothing, we stick to classic items that are well-constructed, well-crafted, and unique. We like to keep things whimsical though, nothing too drab. Dan and I have done a lot of traveling and I think it’s evident in the store that we buy with a keen global eye. We love Brooklyn’s edge, but we think it’s important to pair it with a worldly punch of flavor and color. We make sure that every item of clothing we buy is a favorite in some way.
We do sell some new merchandise though, some gifts and home accessories, and our favorite staples right now are the neon-colored air plant pods, the children’s toys and cutlery from the Danish brand, Maileg, and the organic body products by Malaya.
GP: Is there a specific vision or aesthetic that you see for your store and its customers? How does Brooklyn fit into that image?
Sybil: Brooklyn is an international hub and we want People of 2morrow to reflect that. Dan and I have kept in touch with artists and merchandisers that we’ve met across the globe and made sure to incorporate their work and products in the new store. It’s very important to us to promote diverse, multicultural styles and tastes. We want to help keep things fresh and funky, from your wardrobe to your home.
We love Brooklyn, and Greenpoint in particular, because there’s a high concentration of environmentally conscious, creative, and careful consumers and people here. People want to buy local and support small business. It’s such a creative place, and we want to keep inspiring and supporting that creativity.
GP: What is it like to own a business with your spouse? Do you have any advice for couples who work together?
Sybil: Haha. We both laughed out loud when we read this question. We are still working it out. The key is to keep the lines of communication open so any/all potential problems are on the table, and can then be worked out. No idea is shunned – that’s really important. We started People of 2morrow so we could both equally express ourselves. It’s important to constantly share our full individual visions and then build off of eachother’s ideas. There are challenges, but the rewards outweigh them in the end.
GP:What are some of your favorite hangouts in Greenpoint?
Sybil: Right now, there’s Eat Greenpoint, (they catered our opening party and we’re selling the amazing pottery in our store), La Gamin, and Cookie Road. They are our fuel and we’re thankful that they exist, or else we might not.
People of 2morrow
65 Franklin St
I was injured by a patron at Bembe and I incurred $1400 (ambulance and emergency room) in medical bills. Unfortunately, at the time I did not have insurance. I reached out to Bembe several times and heard nothing back from them for months. It was only when I said I would seek legal counsel if I didn’t hear back from them that they finally responded. Esdras was the person I was speaking with. I sent him pictures of my injuries that have left permanent scars and explained to him what occurred. It was a Saturday night which was over capacity as usual and there was only one security guard inside near the back by the bathrooms and I believe another outside carding people. I was attacked by a woman who was visibly intoxicated according to the Lieutenant who came to the scene. It was impossible for the Bembe security guard to see what was happening because it was so crowded. The situation went on for a while and escalated and no one intervened because I imagine it’s very difficult for only one security guard to see an altercation in a dark, loud and overcrowded place. By the time he figured out what was happening I was badly hurt. Esdras agreed to pay for my medical expenses (i have the email) but with the condition that I sign a waiver stating that I would not seek any further legal action against them. I said I needed to speak to a lawyer first. I emailed Esdras back and told them I would sign it and I never heard from them again. It seems that once I explained to Esdras that the $1400 was a financial burden for me and I was having a hard time paying it, he figured I couldn’t do much as far as suing them and then dismissed me. I tried to hire a lawyer to represent me but unfortunately the retainer was more than the medical bills so I ultimately had to give up. I’ve been going to Bembe for over 15 years. It’s my favorite place to go dancing and bring all my friend’s and family there. I was very surprised and honestly hurt at how Bembe handled this situation. They were dismissive and obviously only became concerned when they thought they were being sued once they figured that wasn’t happening they dismissed me. I would still very much liked to be reimbursed for my injuries that I have to deal with on a daily basis. A club owner is responsible for the safety of their patrons and are responsible for controlling the conduct of persons on the premises by make sure they have enough staff, making sure they aren’t over capacity and making sure they are not serving alcohol to visibly intoxicated patrons.