JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville native Arminius Patterson Jr. is living his dream of being a fashion designer.
The owner of Audacious by Arminius, Patterson is designing suits for NFL players like Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones, tight-end Evan Engram and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson. His love for fashion started at age 5.
"It started on the edge of my mom's bed. She did not put up the laundry often and I am laying there feeling silk, different textures and I found myself falling in love with fashion then," says Arminius Patterson Jr.
But to appreciate where Patterson is now, you have hear his journey. After years of working as an educator he was let go, not once but twice.
"It extremely difficult because you want to be the change you want to see. You want to make a direct impact on your community, and I felt like I was doing that," says Arminius Patterson Jr.
Patterson says after he was fired he came home and cried on his couch. That same day his wife told him "your season is up" and he was trying to be a part of a system that he was not meant to be a part of. Patterson added that God had something greater for him. Patterson says he whole-heartedly agreed with his wife and from that day forward he never looked back. Patterson admits the transition from education to being a full time entrepreneur came with it challenges.
"You second guess yourself. You second guess your faith. You ask yourself why. You go through a period of waiting. I picked up another job at Hibbett sports. You are still trying to figure out is this still what he has planned for me. You cannot see but that is when the faith kicks in," says Arminius Patterson Jr.
Patterson says faith without work is dead, so he got to work. The young boy would dreamt of being a fashioner designer is dreaming no more. Now he is seeing his work being featured in magazines like Vogue. It is a testimony Patterson says he's honored to share.
"I'm glad that we're able to do this, so they can see a fashion designer who can come from the same neighborhood as them. The northside of Jacksonville, 45th and Moncrief. Your zip code does not determine your success. Keep working at it. Do not give up and do not let anyone tell you what you cannot do. Do not allow anyone to put you in a box," says Arminius Patterson Jr.
In addition to designing customed suits for NFL players, Patterson designed the blazer former Ribault star Rennia Davis wore when The Minnesota Lynx drafted her in the first round of the 2021 WNBA Draft.
Patterson also believes in giving back; at his prom giveaway last year he gave away 62 suits.