Born in Birmingham, Alabama to an artistic mother and entrepreneurial father, Jodi Arnold was raised in a household that encouraged creative thinking. "My mother, to this day, talks about the outfits I would put together. Actually, I just loved to make and wear clothes that were different from other kids," says Jodi. Upon her graduation from Baylor University with a degree in Fashion Design, Jodi moved to New York City and found her home in Brooklyn, New York. It's not surprising that Brooklyn's distinct neighborhoods, independent artscene and diverse culture resonate with Jodi. "Brooklyn isn't as transient as other parts of the city; it reminds me of home. Most people wouldn't put Brooklyn and Birmingham in the same sentence, but they both have a sense of community and warmth. This lack of pretense - what I call "soul" - is theessence of the brand," comments Jodi.
Jodi created the label MINT in 1999 as a way to bring together her passion and curiosity of art, design and global culture. Re-named MINT Jodi Arnold in 2007, Jodi refined her design aesthetic by focusing on idiosyncratic fabric combinations, hand-embroidered treatments and the use of unique prints. After 10 years in the industry, the company has completed a re-branding that
touches every aspect of the business. "Contemporary fashion has become muddled with too much product and not enough focus, often overwhelming the consumer. We have re-branded MINT Jodi Arnold as Jodi Arnold to signal that we are getting closer to our core customer, to become more than customer friendly but actually customer-centric."
"At the end of the day, I just want to create clothes that have a soul... an authenticity." - Jodi Arnold
