JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville fashion designer and community organization are making sure Jacksonville teens don’t miss their prom night because of costly formal wear.
Fashion designer Arminius Patterson, owner of Audacious-by-Arminius, has launched a generous initiative to provide free suits and blazers to local students.
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“Our goal is to give away over 100 suits and blazers,” Patterson said, showcasing his shop’s racks filled with bold colors and custom designs that are sure to turn heads.
Making Dreams Affordable
For Patterson, the initiative is deeply personal. “I know how it feels to want to look nice,” he explained. “So I’m glad that we’re able to help them out and put a smile on their face, just to add joy and hopefully they can enjoy their prom night.”
The impact is already evident. Joshua Wilbert, one of the students benefiting from the giveaway, expressed his gratitude: “Feel great... they’re doing great things, giving out free power suits so my mom’s got to do too much for prom.”
His mother, Krystal Wilbert, noted her son’s excitement about Patterson’s unique designs: “He likes different colors, like, just different looks. So when I look through his page, I’m like, ‘oh, yeah, we’re going.’” She added, “We’re just thankful that he offered this giveaway and my son’s been doing really good this year and he got a sweet blessing to top it off.”
Expanding Access to Formal Wear
The spirit of giving extends beyond suits. The Duval Babes organization has also stepped up, hosting a prom dress giveaway to ensure no student misses out on the celebration.
April Lewis, founder of The Duval Babes, understands the financial strain prom can put on families. “For me it was a milestone and a burden as a teen mom and it’s a lot of burden on financial households,” Lewis said. The organization’s mission is to “take the burden off of the students and their parents.”
These community initiatives are about more than just providing formal wear—they’re about building confidence and creating lasting memories for Jacksonville’s youth during one of high school’s most memorable occasions.